I still remember the day my journey into urban exploration began. A friend had read in a local Belgian newspaper about a port town that had been evacuated and was slated for demolition. The allure of this abandoned Belgian town, Doel, was irresistible. That night, we embarked on what would become a thrilling adventure, one that felt like the beginning of a grand journey.
After that first exploration, my friends and I were hooked. There was something about the experience that captivated us instantly—a mix of the slight illegality, the adrenaline rush, and the sheer joy of sharing it all with good friends. It wasn’t just about the places we visited; it was about the bonds we strengthened and the memories we created together. This camaraderie became a vital part of why we kept coming back for more.
What started as a one-time excursion quickly turned into a weekly endeavor. In those early days, we explored at night, driven purely by the thrill of discovering forgotten places scattered across Belgium. Photography wasn’t even on our minds back then; it was all about the excitement of the unknown. We ventured into everything from schools and sanatoriums to factories, uncovering the hidden remnants of the past.
As time went on, my exploration evolved. The initial thrill-seeking never faded, but I became more invested in the buildings themselves—their history and the artifacts left behind. This shift really began when we stumbled upon an 18th- century manor in Belgium. It was like stepping back in time, the mansion looking as though it had been plucked straight from the medieval period. Wandering through its grand halls, I felt a deep connection to the past. This exploration marked the beginning of my love for history, architecture, and the stories that these places hold. The video we made of that manor resonated with many, and it quickly became one of our most popular on the channel. Seeing others appreciate the beauty and history of these places fueled my passion even further.
This newfound interest in history and architecture even influenced my travels. I started visiting museums, admiring local architecture, and eventually developed a deep appreciation for French castles and their illustrious history. Alongside this, I adhered strictly to the ethics of urban exploration, always carrying with me the famous phrase, “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.” In over a decade of exploring, I’ve never taken anything from an abandoned site, as that would be theft. Exploring may exist in a legal gray zone, but respecting these places is paramount. However, it saddens me to see such places left to decay, and I wish I could save the artifacts inside and give them a new life.
At a certain point, I developed an interest in photography, and when my brother joined me, we had the idea of making videos about our adventures. This was the birth of “Bros Of Decay.” It’s hard to believe that was eight years ago. It’s absolutely crazy to think that this project has been a decade-long part of my life! I still remember our first video, shot in an abandoned metal factory in Liège, Belgium. We called it "Heavy Metal Urbex" (Arcelor Mittal).
Over the years, my brother and I explored extensively across Europe. I’ve lost count of how many times we journeyed to France, but we also explored in Italy, Portugal, and even ventured across the world to Japan. Documenting the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster in 2011 remains one of the most emotionally powerful experiences of my life. Seeing 150,000 people forced to flee their homes, leaving everything behind—the shoes still in the hallway, the coffee still on the table—was deeply moving. It was a unique privilege to travel the world with my brother for such a meaningful project, and it’s something we will carry with us forever.
When my brother decided to leave the channel to pursue a different path, I was immensely scared. I worried about how people would react, and whether Bros Of Decay would ever be the same without him. He reassured me, and eventually, I found the strength to continue on my own. At first, I ventured out solo, slowly regaining my confidence, before I started exploring with friends again. This period of transition was challenging, but it taught me resilience and reinforced my commitment to this journey.
Over the years, many people have joined me in these explorations. From Maureno to Jeroen, and later Danny, who has become a regular face on the channel and has been traveling with me around the world for around three years now. Our adventures even took us to the USA, where we filmed some incredible places. One of our most notable projects was a documentary about Lynnewood Hall, once the largest abandoned mansion in the USA. Our video garnered significant attention and helped the association caring for the building to acquire and begin restoring it. This was a deeply rewarding experience, and ever since Lynnewood Hall, we’ve been searching for more places to document and save from their inevitable demise.
After more than 10 years of exploration, I feel like something new is on the horizon. While we will never stop exploring and producing content for Bros Of Decay, we’re also passionate about starting to save some of these buildings. This is something we’re working hard on, and you’ll likely hear more about it soon. I hope Bros Of Decay can live on for a long time, continuing to inspire people with stories from the past and encouraging them to learn from history. We are incredibly blessed to have such an incredible job, and I have no intention of stopping anytime soon!
Looking to the future, I hope the world of urban exploration will continue to thrive. It’s my hope that future explorers will continue to respect these forgotten places and recognize their value, not just as thrilling adventures, but as crucial links to our shared history. The past holds lessons that are too important to forget, and through exploration, we can keep those lessons alive.
