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There’s nothing like seeing photos of horrible and ugly architecture to perk up your spirits. You look at those ugly buildings and you think to yourself, “2020 might be a horrible year and things are going to hell but at least my life’s better than these trainwrecks.” If you’re a fan of architectural disasters, then you have to check out the Ugly Belgian Houses social media pages, run by local Hannes Coudenys. His project of taking snaps of ugly houses in Belgium is loved by a lot of people and he jokes that it’s turned into almost a “cult.”

Hannes told Bored Panda that a big part of his growth online has been the fact that he's been doing a project for Belgian TV. "I ring the door and ask them if they know they are on this page. In the end, I tell them it's my website." You can check out Hannes' videos right here. He's still working on them and around 25 new ones are in the making.

You can check out Bored Panda’s earlier awesome posts featuring Ugly Belgian Houses right here and here. But before you do that, scroll down, upvote your fave horrendous buildings, and read on for our freshest interview with Hannes.

More info: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | YouTubeBook

#1

Reminds Me Of 'The Scream' By Edvard Munch And That's Exactly What I'm Doing

Reminds Me Of 'The Scream' By Edvard Munch And That's Exactly What I'm Doing

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#3

Go Home House, You’re Drunk

Go Home House, You’re Drunk

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Hannes told Bored Panda that there is a problem with becoming too big, too fast. This has lead to some architectural drama on his social media pages. People have been clashing there because they have different opinons about experimental architecture and classical Belgian farmstyle buildings. "I never wanted to shame experimental [buildings]," Hannes said.

He told us that his book sales have been doing great and it's already become a cult classic in Belgium. "A lot of tourists buy the book when they visit. We sold about 20,000 copies which is quite big in our small country of 10 million people."

Hannes said that going outside was easier during the coronavirus lockdown. "We could go outside for walks and runs so that [taking pictures of houses] was the only thing I could do."

#4

I’m Not Supporting This. Just Like Those Columns

I’m Not Supporting This. Just Like Those Columns

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#6

The Roof, The Roof, The Roof Has Expired

The Roof, The Roof, The Roof Has Expired

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Tomasz Jackowski
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this one took me by surprise, I saw the first photo and was like "oh no...", but then I kept scrolling and it turns out there was another photo which made it even worse :V

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“We all love to hate ugly Belgian houses,” Hannes told Bored Panda in an earlier interview. However, he added that it’s not just Belgium that’s full of wacky architecture.

“Poland has terrible architecture, as a lot of people have let me see,” Hannes said. He also pointed out that Belgium has lots of great architecture, too (so it’s not all dreary and grim down there). “I like the work of Gijs van Vaerenbergh, Vens-Vanbelle, De Vylder Vinck Taillieu, Vincent van Duysen.”

More than 107k people follow Hannes’ Ugly Belgian Houses page on Facebook while his fan count on Instagram has grown to 101k (it was 76.8k in October 2019).

#8

When You Discover There’s An Ugly Belgian House Under Your Ugly Belgian House

When You Discover There’s An Ugly Belgian House Under Your Ugly Belgian House

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According to Hannes, Belgians have a weird interpretation of what makes a house look good. “Normally, if you like architecture you like good houses, but in Belgium, there’s a lot of ugly architecture. So I started taking pictures of it.”

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He added that regulations in Belgium are quite liberal and people love to design their own quirky dream houses. However, some house owners were angry that Hannes featured photos of them online.

Tempers flared. Lawyers got involved. And Hannes gave in and shut down his blog. Fortunately, he relaunched it back in 2013. Now he asks people to contact him directly if they don’t like seeing their weird homes being poked fun at online.

#12

Keep Your Distance People

Keep Your Distance People

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#17

When Your House Is A Penis But You’re Not Allowed To Show It

When Your House Is A Penis But You’re Not Allowed To Show It

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#20

The Architect Had A Vision (Problem)

The Architect Had A Vision (Problem)

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Anja Schmidt
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"we had some metal leftovers ..." or maybe in areas where´sa lot of snow ...

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#21

If I Ever Shoot The Movie ‘Two Alfa Romeo’s & Julia’ I Know Where To Go

If I Ever Shoot The Movie ‘Two Alfa Romeo’s & Julia’ I Know Where To Go

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Francis
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

not the most beautiful house, but not as bad as all the others...

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#22

Nothing To See Here

Nothing To See Here

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Talie Bocci
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It looks like those annoying old posters where if you unfocus your eyes you'll see the hidden picture (window?).

paulmdavies1 avatar
Paul Davies
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Probably because they figured out the windows were going to be much more expensive than the brickwork!

anj avatar
Anja Schmidt
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if you don´t like people passing by and watch into your private space - consequent!

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Andre Porter
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He hates it when she leaves. Ahh fixed that problem haven't we?

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#27

We All Live In A Yellow Submarine

We All Live In A Yellow Submarine

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#31

Me When There's A Sale. (Thx Hadie)

Me When There's A Sale. (Thx Hadie)

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#32

Friends With Benefits

Friends With Benefits

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WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The wooden door gives them acces to the rear of their property for bicycles and bikes and waste bins. Very common in Belgium and the Netherlands.

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#33

When They Keep Parking On Your Disabled Spot.

When They Keep Parking On Your Disabled Spot.

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WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Belgium doesn't have "personal" parking spots. You can apply to have a spot marked as a disabled spot, but it still can be used by anyone who also has a parking permit for disabled spots.

#34

Quatro Stogi Oh No

Quatro Stogi Oh No

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#35

So What’s It Like Living On A Timezone Line?

So What’s It Like Living On A Timezone Line?

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#37

Meh

Meh

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#38

Walkie Talkitecture

Walkie Talkitecture

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#39

Who Wants To Be An Ugly Belgian House? Please Raise Your Tower

Who Wants To Be An Ugly Belgian House? Please Raise Your Tower

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Scagsy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Are we being a bit harsh on our Belgian friends here? Looks ok to me?

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#41

Architecture Is Peanuts

Architecture Is Peanuts

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WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Imagine the effort and money that went into the creation of this monstrosity. Which civil servant was sleeping when he approved this?

#42

Flatten That Curve

Flatten That Curve

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#44

When You Didn’t Know You Had To Bring Your Own Roof

When You Didn’t Know You Had To Bring Your Own Roof

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#45

Solar Powered Balcony

Solar Powered Balcony

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WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Shutting out the light with solar panels so you need to switch on the light to see how much you are saving....

#46

While A Part Of Me Wants To Know, Another Part Of Me Is Too Exhausted To Ask

While A Part Of Me Wants To Know, Another Part Of Me Is Too Exhausted To Ask

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#47

He Took It Too Pharaoh

He Took It Too Pharaoh

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Tomasz Jackowski
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

does each of those have a riddle you need to answer to enter the house?

#48

Safehouse

Safehouse

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#49

Omg They Are Breeding

Omg They Are Breeding

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#50

With This Weather You Can Use A Warm Hat

With This Weather You Can Use A Warm Hat

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#51

Silver, Gold, Bronze In Olympic Ugliness

Silver, Gold, Bronze In Olympic Ugliness

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#52

Ceci N’est Pas Un Lockdown

Ceci N’est Pas Un Lockdown

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#53

You Have To Stay Inside But You Don't Have To Throw Away Your Door

You Have To Stay Inside But You Don't Have To Throw Away Your Door

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WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like they decided to move the frontdoor to the side of the house.

#55

Not Everyone Takes Quarantine Equally Serious

Not Everyone Takes Quarantine Equally Serious

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#56

It’s A Trap

It’s A Trap

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#57

Suddenly, I’m Not Half The House I Used To Be

Suddenly, I’m Not Half The House I Used To Be

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WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When their parents died the 2 sons got in a fight over the inheritance so one of them packed up and went away.

#58

Do You Hear Me Red, Red, Whine

Do You Hear Me Red, Red, Whine

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#59

Is That A Silo Or Are You Just Happy To See Me?

Is That A Silo Or Are You Just Happy To See Me?

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#60

Move Over Mordor

Move Over Mordor

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#61

‘I Fok Horses.’ ‘Pardon?’ Yes, Paarden!

‘I Fok Horses.’ ‘Pardon?’ Yes, Paarden!

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Ludwig Michiel
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The caption is a play on English-Dutch false friends: "Ik fok" means "I breed", and "paarden" means "horses".

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#62

Pirates Of The Crib

Pirates Of The Crib

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#63

Split Personality

Split Personality

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#64

Ha! Greeeeeeeey!

Ha! Greeeeeeeey!

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#65

When The Battle Between The Left Wing And The Right Wing Got Ugly

When The Battle Between The Left Wing And The Right Wing Got Ugly

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WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's just 2 properties with different levels of maintenance. The right house has the roof tiles replaced and the bricks of the walls power washed.

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#67

(Emojitecture)

(Emojitecture)

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#69

Mi Casa Es Su Picasso

Mi Casa Es Su Picasso

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