(B) Kortrijk, abandoned house in the Sionstraat

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This is an abandoned house next to the O.L.V. van Bijstand-school (see previous post). All the houses and shops in the neighbourhood are left because they will be demolished to build a new huge shopping mall and apartments.

(B) Kortrijk, O.L.V. van Bijstand

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O.L.V. van Bijstand was a school in the center of Kortrijk. Years ago it was closed but still used as part of the art academy. Now it is completely abandoned, just like a convent, an elderly home and some premises in the neighbourhood. A small part of it is already demolished.
On August 1, the complete demolition of all buildings will start to make place for a huge shopping mall and appartments.
A blog about the demolishing and building can be found here: http://winkelcomplexkortrijk.blogspot.com/

(B) Kortrijk, Tissage & filature Camille De Stoop, III

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We went back with our ladder today (people passed by when we pushed the ladder under the fence, but they ignored us), to catch the nice orange sunlight coming from the sunset (see the set of I climbed onto the roof and had a view on Kortrijk.
No spectacular adventures today ;-)
But we saw a hole in the floor in the place where we had lightpainted and jumped around in the dark on our previous visit... none of us remarked it then, and fortunately neither did we fall in...

1st visit: 2007/03/10
2nd visit: 2007/04/22

(B) Kortrijk, Tuileries du Littoral, V

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Today, after working hours, we explored the rest of the buildings of Littoral. While we were busy on one side, we suddenly had to flee, because we heard someone entering the big hall, where doors are normally closed.
But we went on doing our thing, in the very dusty production halls. Today we were very lucky with the sunlight, as you can see in the set of today. I even met the big brother of R2D2, a very impressive machine.
Once back in the hall were we started, the setting sun produced a nice orange light.
But again we had to flee, the man seemed to be still busy putting things at the end of the hall. My boyfriend had to cross quickly, luckily the man didn't notice him.
Going back to our car, we saw the man at his car and he saw us, but he didn't care about us and we did neither ;-)

1st visit: 2007/03/10
2nd visit: 2007/03/18
3rd visit: 2007/04/01
4th visit: 2007/04/23

(B) Kortrijk, Tuileries du Littoral, IV

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We went into the newer buildings on the other side of the street. I discovered an easy entrance to the domain the day before, today we noticed that all the doors were open and we could visit every building. Even the electricity was still working in one place!
There's a lot of dust floating around in the main building, I consider taking an industrial mask with me next time - no joking!
These buildings were abandoned only recently in 2004.

1st visit: 2007/03/10
2nd visit: 2007/03/18
3rd visit: 2007/04/01

(B) Kortrijk, Tissage & filature Camille De Stoop, II

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It was already dark and we thougt it would be nice to play with our pocket-torches. We went totally crazy with the lights and had a lot of fun ;-)
I wonder what the neighbours across the street were thinking of it...

1st visit: 2007/03/10

(B) Kortrijk, Tuileries du Littoral, III

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While I was busy taking photographs, a police car drove by and stopped - clearly for me! (They must 've seen my bike.) I went to the car, greeted the policemen, and told them that I was only taking photographs (showing my camera). They replied that this was private site, and that I should pay attention to the fact that I could have bricks or something on my head. (and I thought: cycling on the road is even more dangerous!). But they didn't chase me away, on the contrary, they said that I was allowed to proceed what I was doing!
I look very honest, I guess ;-)

1st visit: 2007/03/10
2nd visit: 2007/03/18

(B) Kortrijk, Filature KTM, II

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While being in there, an alarm went off twice. We don't know what or who caused it, but we met no police or security-guards, luckily.
On the ground floor there were some rectangular holes filled with water or some kind of fluid, we had to watch our steps.

1st visit: 2007/03/18

(B) Kortrijk, Filature KTM, I

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The early 1990's are the beginning of the end of the once so flourishing cotton industry of Kortrijk. Every year more companies stop production.

The Kortrijkse Textiel Maatschappij (KTM) was a spinning mill. The comapny went bankrupt in 2001 due to the debts they had. The production went well, but the costs of machines and buildings were to big for the company.

The oldest buildings date back to 1950, and the newer halls were built in the 1970s. In their peak year during the 1980s there were 800 employees. But automation of the production was the final end.

While exploring, we heard some doors and windows slamming... it was the wind.

Info source: http://www.urbex.nl

News (Dutch):

• 2001/08/28: Textielmaatschappij legt de boeken neer
  
• 2001/08/30: "Einde van gezond bedrijf"

(B) Kortrijk, Tuileries du Littoral, II

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We climbed up to the upper level, of which the floor was pretty unsteady, but they had placed boards on it so we could explore it fairly safe.

1st visit: 2007/03/10

(B) Kortrijk, Tuileries du Littoral, I

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After the First World War the owner of the roof tile factory in Ramskapelle gets the opportunity to start a new factory in Kortrijk. Next to a canal, a good transport route for export to England the new factory was build.

In 1924 the first tile was produced by Céramiques et Briqueteries Mecaniques du Littoral. In 1933 the first tunnel oven in Belgium was employed.

In 1959 the production was expanded by prefab walls. The tile business went bad, so other export possibilities were explored. But in the 1980's the tile market improved, the company was focussed again on roof tiles.

The beautiful building is temporary a protected monument. Anyway, some old buildings are already demolished.

Info source: http://www.urbex.nl

More info (Dutch): http://www.vvia.be/vviasites/8500_002.htm
News (Dutch):

• 2005/01/20: Koramic verhuist naar Aalbeke
  
• 2005/01/20: Plannen voor KMO-zone op Littoral
  
• 2005/07/23: "Ik steek er geen cent in"
  
• 2006/09/20: Deel dakpannenfabriek gaat tegen de vlakte

(B) Kortrijk, Tissage & filature Camille De Stoop, I

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This spinning mill was built in 1908 and a newer part was build in 1927. The company was founded by Camiel de Stoop.

The factory started as Tissage et Filature Camille De Stoop. Later in 1928 it became Tissage et Teinturerie Le Canal. The spinning was replaced for textile production.

The building is a classic Manchester style, it reminds you of an medieval castle. It was the first spinning mill who hadn't the classic sheddak roofs.

The last compagny in this building was Beklon Spinning Mills and some years later Belplast Delorge. They recycled plastic waste. The compagny went bankrupt in 1990 after a fire in one of the buildings.

The building got protected status in 2003 and will be transformed into lofts soon.

When we wanted to go the the first level, a very solid closed door blocked our way. After somewhat looking about, we saw the floor of the first level but could not reach it. On the ground level there was a huge door which we lifted up and put against the wall, as some kind of ladder. It was pretty steady but still not very reliable. The guys went up, I also tried but was afraid that I would slip away or wouldn't be able to go back anymore. We'll return later with a real ladder ;-)

Info Source: http://www.urbex.nl

News (Dutch):

• 2002/05/04: Nieuw leven voor oude fabrieken
  
• 2003/07/25: Industrieel erfgoed is de moeite waard
  
• 2005/05/13: Lofts in Stoops fabriek
  
• 2007/03/07: 42 lofts in Stoops fabriek