Les Dolimarts, a former Belgian vacation center
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You could come upon the ruins of Les Dolimarts not far from the Belgian town of Bohan in the province of Namur’s south. This tourist complex was constructed in the 1950s, with a design inspired by Western tourist destinations and features such as a self-service café.
The building of the Les Dolimarts was completed by the Socialist Mutualities, a Belgian health insurance fund. The goal of this resort was for the Socialist Mutualities to be able to provide reasonable vacations to its consumers.
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A hotel, individual cottages with a peculiar triangle design, and chalets were among the structures that made up the resort center. “Superb, cozy cabins”were “scattered across the woodland,” according to one nostalgic blogger. A restaurant, various stores, and mini-golf were among the recreational options.
The final structure to be erected in the complex had a big dance hall on one level with a bar and spectacular views, as well as a bowling alley in the basement. A gaming room with arcade equipment was also available.
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A unique playground for children was set up featuring swings, a sandpit, slides, and other kid-friendly activities. Many individuals have wonderful childhood recollections of family vacations here since it was so family-friendly.
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Year after year, a large number of people visited, allowing the park to thrive for decades. Les Dolimarts’ fortunes, however, sank when a new management team took control. Les Dolimarts gradually began to suffer from mounting debt and dwindling tourist numbers.
The resort had become utterly unprofitable after over fifty years of existence, and it was shuttered in2000. The park was purchased by the Belgian government for 3.1 million euros with the intention of converting it into an asylum facility.
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In December 2001, the then-Minister of Social Integration, Johan Vandelanott, presented this idea. The scheme, however, never developed beyond the concept stage. Instead, the old tourist attraction has been abandoned for some years and has been vandalized.
After visitors to this abandoned location threw several liters of poisonous liquid over the ground in2004, it was determined that there was some soil contamination. The state spent 2.6 million euros to clean up the soil after it was discovered to be severely contaminated.
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The government was able to sell the property in 2005 for 220,000 euros, less than a tenth of what it had initially cost. The new owners did nothing with the abandoned complex, and the main building, restaurant, and bowling alley were all destroyed in a fire in 2007.
The abandoned triangular-shaped white homes are the only structures left today. However, it appears like they, too, will not be standing for long.
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The 30-hectare plot was approved in June 2019 for the construction of 50 wood cottages. Each cabin will be high-end, one-of-a-kind, and tailored to the surrounding surroundings. When the park is finished, it will only be able to accommodate 100 guests at a time, compared to the 1,000 or more that visited during Les Dolimarts’ heyday.
The objective is to finish the project in phases, with each stage consisting of the construction and sale of15 cottages. The water and power systems will be fully overhauled. The investors do not want restaurants or recreational amenities built on the property. Instead, they hope that visitors would make use of the adjacent countryside’s tourism attractions and services, therefore helping local companies.
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The project’s final permits were obtained in January 2020, indicating that construction will begin this year. The demolition of the remaining structures will be the first order of business. Les Cabanes des Dolimarts will be the name of the new holiday park.
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Eric Jaminet, an independent cameraman, and photographer from Belgium is the proud owner of these incredible photographs. His love is exploring abandoned structures and forgotten areas, and he shares images of his adventures on his website.
Urbex Vision is a collection of Eric’s photographs and movies that capture the beauty and mood of the places he’s visited. Please visit his website and contact him if you have any queries. You may also follow Eric on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram, where he also shares his experiences.
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