(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, 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, 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