About me.
My name is Thierry, 24 years old and born in Bruges (Brugge), worldfamous city in Belgium and one of Europe's most important landmarks as the city centre has hardly changed since the Middle Ages. And of course, famous for its chocolat :D
I've been interested in photography since i was a kid. I saw things that i wanted to photograph but i never did, because i didn't have a camera. In 2004, i decided to buy one myself and i started to photograph, and although i hardly made any good results, i didn't stop. In 2005, i discovered Urban Exploration. Through the internet, Abandoned-Places was like for most of us one of the first websites i saw. Soon i took my first steps in a new old world, it fascinated me from the very first second.
Why did it grab my atention and why i like UE? Well, there is so much beauty in abandoned and decayed places, the smell of fungus and pigeonshit or the view of split paint and rotten wood. These are all fantastic things that show and describe the way of natural life, living and dying. And be honest, who was as a small child not interested in that abandoned building in your neighbourhood? Didnt you wanna sneak in and explore? Well, i was. Not only beeing inside but also trying to get inside is fascinating! It's often very easy to get into places without breaking or destroying property. There is always a way in...
On this very moment i spent more then 1000 hours in desolate places and that number still growing...
About Urb-Ex.
What exactly is urb-ex or urban exploration?
Urban exploration is exactly what the name implies, exploring urban (and not so urban) sites. We mainly explore abandoned sites (like empty factories, abandoned houses, old hospitals, militairy places and other forgotten buildings/places). It's important to know that we aren't burglars or squatters, we just enter those buildings to explore them. We never force ourselves a way in. Most abandoned buildings have got doors forced by previous visitors, collapsed walls and rusty locks that can also provide a way in. There is a strange atmosphere in most abandoned buildings, and you never know who/what you are going to meet/find. Don't get me wrong, I am not encouraging you to start urban exploring. Trespassing is still illegal and abandoned buildings are mostly quite dangerous to enter. At least, if you are able to enter before they* find you.
(*police, security, owner, ... or there dogs.)
Location info
- All the locations you see on my website are in Belgium unless the title on top of the page says otherwise.
- I refuse answering any kind of questions related to location information.
Important.
With this website I show only what I like to do in life. I don't want to encourage anybody to imitate these extremely dangerous expeditions! I cannot be held responsible for any trouble you might encounter by imitating me entering UE-locations, not even when you break a leg, fall on your head or when the guard's dog bites your throat to drag you in little parts afterwards. Also when you are ok but your valuable camera has been transformed into a dust box... I have nothing to do with it! I don't know you, I never saw you... who are you anyway???
About the guestbook...
The guest book is for writing down your thoughts, ideas or emotions about my photos, my work.
Any abuse like SPAM, unfounded negative comments, or comment that is totally off-topic will be deleted from this website. I keep the right to change the content of the messages whenever I believe a part of the content is violent or just plain stupid.
About remaining up to date.
You want to stay up-to-date? Subscribe through this contact page.
About wallpapers.
Since the day my website has been online, I've received lots of requests for wallpapers. Well, here they are: (size: 1280x1024)
About beautiful girls...
Sorry, no interest, i'm taken with the best available ...
About life
Life is a game and if you don't play it, you lose it. (Me)
Life is like a box of chocolates... you never know what you're gonna get. (Forrest Gump)
FAQ's
Do I waste my time when I write you an email, asking for info on locations?
Yes you do !
Is it possible to explore with you together sometimes?
Nope! Sorry!
Do you explore on your own or in group?
Well, I did a few alone but mostly in group. It's more safe and more fun!
How do you find those locations?
Internet (google), friends, or just drive by (without a gun of course) and put the clutch in the rear position and just take a look!
Has anything bad ever happened to you?
Well, not really... I had some real crazy groundskeeper behind my ass! And when I left a location in Brussels, I got attacked by 6 agressive immigrants!
Have you ever been trapped?
Yeah, a few times from owners & guards and once from police when I was on the rooftop of an old miningbuilding.
What's your worst UE case scenario?
1. Being stuck in a collapsed floor or ceiling & 2. Being killed by the guard's dog.
What's your dream explo?
I don't know, I didn't dream that dream yet...
What's the strangest thing u've found in a building?
A corpse...
What's your advice for me as a beginning explorer?
Stop using XTC, search some decent work, earn some money and be a slave of the society.
Besides your camera, do you take other stuff with you on exploration?
Yeah of course, a .38 and a few bullets.
Do you have any advice before I go to my first exploration?
Jip, just shut up or i might use that .38 right now...
Could you repeat the last part please?
BANG BANG BANG