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Charleroi Industrial Decline

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Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2018

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2018

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
charleroi architecture

Charleroi, 2012-2021

Once, Belgium was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Charleroi, with its thriving steel and coal industry was its powerhouse. Now Charleroi has become a dilapidated town, plagued by chronic high unemployment and an infra structure that is falling apart. Readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant voted Charleroi unanimously as the ugliest town in Europe, maybe even the world. Some see Charleroi as a symbol of everything that went wrong in Belgium. Others see it as a shrine and museum of industrial architecture, from a glorious era gone by. The once coal black hills of mine refuse, the so called terrils, are now lush green mountains. Still, change is coming. With the demise of industry, water and air have become clean. The first artist colonies are settling in Charleroi. Charleroi has unfulfilled promises … — Belgium

  • © Teun Voeten
documentary photography

ARCHITECTURE

A nice break from hectic journalism

Originally, Voeten learnt photography from his uncle Sybolt Voeten who was a well known architectural photographer. He still does assignments for architectural firms worldwide.

In 1989, Voeten started to photograph New York skyscrapers and continues to this day. His latest project is industrial landscapes in the Belgian town of Charleroi, according to some people the ugliest city in the world. In 2016 and 2017. Voeten photographed with his Hasselblad the destruction in Sinjar and Mosul.

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