BelgiumEuropeOff the Beaten Path
written by Laura Meyers 15 June 2025
If you would like to get an idea of what the world would look like if humans were gone, the ghost town of Doel might just be the perfect place to visit then.
This could easily be described as the least populated town in Europe.
Doel is full of empty houses that were abandoned by their owners, the streets here are silent without any cars and there’s graffiti art on nearly every street corner.
This Flemish town is located between the harbour of Antwerp and the nuclear power plant of Doel, and it’s one of the most unique places to visit in Belgium.
It’s good to know that although Doel is called a ghost town, and it looks pretty abandoned too, there are still 15 to 20 people living here. So, make sure to be respectful if you decide to visit the place.
As I’m from Belgium, I visited Doel a couple of times and enjoyed each of my visits. You will find everything you need to know if you’re planning on visiting Belgium’s ghost town in this useful guide.
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Why Was Doel Abandoned?
The church of Doel
First things first. I’m sure you’re wondering why a lively town counting more than 1,000 inhabitants during the 1970s was suddenly abandoned. I’m sorry to disappoint you, but this is not the most exciting story.
It’s actually due to an ongoing political battle. The reason why people left Doel was because of expansion plans for the harbour of Antwerp. Doel was standing in the way, so it became a target for demolition. In 1999, the residents could leave their houses voluntarily in exchange for a payout.
However, some residents refused to leave Doel, and they successfully fought for their village. Because of this, the government wasn’t able to execute its plan to destroy this town, and the topic became an ongoing political battle.
Although plans to destroy Doel were postponed, within the next decade, more and more residents left the village. There was no police and a lot of vandalism took place, so they didn’t feel safe anymore. This is something that has changed in recent years, though, and the town is a lot safer now.
What About the Future of Doel?
In 2022, new plans for the expansion of the harbour of Antwerp were made, and according to these plans, Doel can remain, and former residents can now buy back their homes.
This is great news for the people who fought so hard for this town, but so far, Doel remains a ghost town.
Visiting Doel
I visited Doel for the first time in 2012. The town’s strange, post-apocalyptic atmosphere had left quite an impression on me, so I decided to return, and some things have changed here since my last visit.
For starters, when you’re entering Doel, there’s a lever blocking the way for cars. You will have to put your ID inside a slot in order to enter the town. If this is not an option, you can park your car somewhere nearby and continue by walking.
It’s also good to know that there are metal plates on every door and window now, so it’s no longer possible to enter the abandoned houses. These plates were installed in order to keep vandals and squatters from entering the buildings.
Walking around the town’s empty streets feels as if you are walking on the set of an apocalyptic movie. If it wasn’t for the graffiti and the occasional signs of life, Doel would give you a pretty good idea of what the world would look like without us. Pretty fascinating if you’re asking me!
Things to See in Doel
Doel is not that big, and the best way to explore this Belgian ghost town is by simply walking around. There are some things that you cannot miss during a visit to Doel, though.
The town’s cemetery and church are some of these. It’s interesting to note that the latter is still open for special occasions like weddings and funerals.
On the left side of the church, you will find a building named “Hooghuis”. This beautiful house was built in 1613, and it was inherited by the famous Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens
You will see that there are a few inhabited houses in this town too. During my visit, I came across a lady who left her house while I was walking around with my huge camera. She greeted me and didn’t seem to mind, but it did make me feel a little awkward. It made me wonder what the inhabitants of Doel think about people visiting their decaying town.
Other interesting things to see in Doel are the town’s abandoned bus stops, deserted gas stations, closed cafes, decaying houses and of course the graffiti art.
Don’t forget to check out the power plant of Doel too before leaving. This building can be seen from the town’s last street.
Doel: FAQs
Do people still live in Doel?
Yes, there are still 15 to 20 people living in Doel. This is way less than the 1,000 inhabitants this town had in the 1970s, but it’s important to be respectful and be mindful that some people still call this town home.
Is Doel safe?
Yes, Doel is safe. Although safety used to be an issue in Doel, measures have been taken, and this town is now safe to visit.
Can you visit Doel?
Everyone can visit Doel. Note that when you’re entering this town, there is a lever blocking the way for cars, though. You will have to put your ID card inside a slot to enter. If this is not an option, you can park your car somewhere before the lever and enter Belgium’s ghost town by walking.
How to Get to Doel
Doel is a small town near the Dutch border in the Belgian province of East Flanders. It’s 86 km (54 mi) from Brussels and 30 km (18 mi) from Antwerp. You can reach this abandoned town by:
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- Car: The easiest way to reach Doel is by car. It’s just a half-hour drive from Antwerp or a 1-hour drive from Brussels.
- Public transportation: If you want to take public transportation, you will need to head to Antwerp first (this city is easy to reach by train) and take De Lijn bus 19 from bus stop Noorderplaats to Nieuw-Namen. Then, you will have to take a second bus (De Lijn bus 31) to Doel.
Visiting Doel: Final Thoughts
Doel is definitely one of the most unique places to visit in Belgium. It’s a place unlike any other, and if you’re into photography or like visiting unusual places, you will LOVE this town!
As Belgium is a small country, this ghost town is an easy day trip from Brussels or any other place in the country. It doesn’t take too long to get there, and it’s definitely worth visiting.
All in all, Belgium’s ghost town is one of the best-abandoned places to visit in this country. It’s quite a unique experience to explore this town’s abandoned streets, see the street art and spot an occasional sign of life.
