State of Doel

In 2021, leading up to the first edition of Doel Festival, we wrote about Doel’s history, the story of Doel presented in a compact and clear way. We felt it important that visitors knew where they were going, which village they would be welcomed in and what happened there in the past, how it garnered […]

Samen Stikken

Samen Stikken (Sewing Together) Hannah, Renée and D’Lisa graduated in architecture in 2025. Afterwards they took up a project that revolved around ‘transience’, through the repurposing, recycling and repairing of a large curtain used in Tom Callebaut’s G-Lab. The curtain, measuring eight by three meters, garnered traces of use throughout the years and had aged […]

Doel fuelled by Diesel

Doel fuelled by Diesel Last year we announced our collaboration with Diesel for the third time. A collaboration that has been evolving since 2023, first supporting our physical poster campaign, then we installed a fake storefront, as if a Diesel store had always been in Doel, equally taken over by the surrounding foliage and ruined, […]

Shibari: An interview with Tatiana and Isa

An interview with Tatiana (rigger) and Isa (rope partner) When did you start rigging and how did you get to know each other? Tatiana: I officially started rigging about six years ago. Before that, it was something I’d seen at Kit Kat club in Berlin and was trying to learn through YouTube videos. I quickly […]

Haven: an open air club

Haven: An Open Air Club When conceptualising the first edition of Doel, we were heavily looking at the village and its surroundings, asking ourselves what are some of the most prominent, striking features and landmarks present in this nearly abandoned town. There’s numerous empty houses, but also storefronts, hangars, a school, city hall and chapel, […]

La Terrasse au bord de l’Escaut

La Terrasse au bord de l’Escaut A romantic escape with a view of the Schelde, cava and shrimp croquettes. Lose yourself to the view of Scaldiswhile a setting sun softens the sightObserve aquatic vesselsboth massive and modestpass by left and rightWitness the twinkles of harbour cityappear at nautical twilightAccompanied by concrete giantsspewing their damp into […]

Ruigoord: Village in the Wilderness

Ruigoord: Village in the Wilderness Doel’s history, and current visual state, was determined by external powers that dictated it would have to be removed from the map in order to make room for a large scale expansion project by the harbour of Antwerp. Through battle and hardship, it was able to remain and it’s very […]

Bungalow: Revival of a Lost Street

After Doel Festival’s first edition, we immediately felt our terrain was too small. When looking at it on a map, the festival didn’t have any loop, which would improve how visitors move through the village, we only had dead ends. You cover an entire village, but of course its largest surface is taken by houses […]

An Interview with Sabine

An interview with Sabine How did you end up in Doel? First, I did two years of voluntary work in Doel. Back then you used to have a SAAMO (Samenlevingsopbouw) kiosk here on that corner. But I was initially triggered by a television broadcast about the village, about how it was going to disappear in […]

The Bus of Onder Stroom

Onder Stroom, once a free-haven in Antwerp, located in the ’t Eilandje part of town, near the river Schelde. An autonomous playground, an artistic and urban laboratorium, a meeting place for its neighbours, for artists, thinkers and dreamers, with enough room for artistic, social and educational activities and events, both in- and outdoors. A breeding […]