This coke-gas powered power plant is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful industrial sites I have explored so far. While it is not particularly massive, the plant offers countless photogenic details, from vintage machinery to colorful pipes. Both the boiler room and the turbine hall are vibrant with original paint and lighting, creating a unique atmosphere that feels frozen in time.

The Power Plant

My first visit in 2019!

My first visit

Turbine Blade

Power plants often stand apart from other factories thanks to their complex architecture and monumental turbine halls. This site is a perfect example of that appeal. The combination of steel walkways, towering machinery, and retro control panels makes it a paradise for fans of industrial heritage and photography.

Turbine blade

Turbines

The plant stands next to another imposing abandoned factory. Together, they represent an era when coal and steel were pillars of the Belgian economy. Over the decades, the site has evolved and adapted to changing needs, which is particularly visible in the turbine room. There, you can see turbines of different generations displayed almost like museum pieces, ranging from 6.5 MW to 75 MW.

Turbines

Escher Wyss

The largest and most recent turbine a striking blue Escher Wyss has lent the plant its nickname: the "Blue Power Plant." However, it could just as well have been called the "Yellow Power Plant.

Escher Wyss

Control Room

Hidden in the shadows of the turbine hall, the vintage control room remains intact. Accessible only via a small passageway in the corner, it feels almost secret. Its preserved switches, gauges, and panels are a rare glimpse into the operational heart of the facility.

Control Room

Security

This site is known for its tight security, and during my visits I encountered the guards several times. You can even see some of these moments in my YouTube video documenting the exploration. Fortunately, despite returning to this power plant multiple times and almost always spotting security on patrol, I was never caught. It’s part of what makes exploring such places so thrilling. With so much active surveillance, it’s no surprise the plant has remained so well preserved to this day.

Boiler House

The roof and some extra pictures

The roof and some extra pictures

Drone shots

From above, the forgotten giants reveal their true scale. With our drones, we soared over the imposing Cokerie de Marchienne and the haunting Blue Powerplant two iconic remnants of a bygone industrial era. Once alive with fire and energy, they now lie silent, overtaken by time and nature.

Drone shots