This time we’re exploring an abandoned water bottling plant that we’ve discovered somewhere in Belgium. Until now we’ve explored many different kinds of industrial facilities that were left to rot but something like this was completely new to us: this is a bottling plant where everything was left behind. Even the collapsed roof and the unstable building structure couldn’t stop us from entering this place.

1.


Video:




2.


In 1958, a man from an eastern Belgium town discovered a spring of water near today’s location of the bottling plant. Shortly after that he started to sell this water – as an own brand named after himself. At first a small bottling plant was build but after a second source was found a bigger and far more modern one was constructed – it’s the facility we’re exploring today. In the year 1980 around 18.000 bottles were filled here per day. Some time ago this bottling plant and the water brand were sold to an US-American businessman.

3.


It seems as if around 15 years ago production had been stopped for unknown reasons. Everywhere you can find calendars and documents which are dated to 2002.

4.


It was fascinating to see all these different machines which are used in modern bottling plants too. You could easily imagine how loud it must have been inside the factory hall when these machines were still working.

5.


Under the weight of snow the roof of the factory collapsed in 2011. Only a few months later the owner of the company had announced that he wanted to rebuild the bottling plant. Unfortunately the sum insured was way lower than expected but this money was needed for the planned construction works. Six years later the water bottling plant still lies in ruins and the legal process about the insurance money is wearing on.

6.

Nicely done. I like this.