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Belgian Guy Documents Ugly Houses He Sees And They’re So Bad, It’s Hilarious (30 More New Pics)
Interview
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 | YouTube | Book
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Reminds Me Of 'The Scream' By Edvard Munch And That's Exactly What I'm Doing
Bardhi's Dad 5 years ago
Looks pretty serious. Like my middle school physic teacher. Chedo was his name
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#2
Malebox
Courtney LeDroit 5 years ago
Is it Mailbox because the house looks like a mailbox or because the mailbox looks like a penis?
#3
Go Home House, You’re Drunk
Mike Mischak 5 years ago
When one leg is shorter than the other, things like this sometimes work.
Aubrie Allen 5 years ago
In New England in the 1600's (I think) that made askew windows like that called Witches Windows. They were crooked like that so witches couldn't get in.
Carol Sage 5 years ago
All I can picture is the reaction of a cat trying to jump up and sit in those windows....
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
XianJaguar 5 years ago
LOL...pretty sure those are there to protect the glass doors from cars running of the road. We have the same pillars in front of my work to keep cars from running into the building.
#5
Jesus Christ
Layla Corman 5 years ago
It would be SO EASY giving directions if this house was a landmark! "If you see the Jesus house, you have gone too far."
#6
The Roof, The Roof, The Roof Has Expired
Tomasz Jackowski 5 years ago
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
Stannous Flouride 5 years ago
This is much older than the surrounding buildings. Other buildings probably abutted it on the two sides we can see at one time, necessitating its odd shape.
Tanya Kysel'ova 5 years ago
I like this house. it's charming. if speak of ugly houses, they are around
Anja Schmidt 5 years ago
this is an invitation for graffitti sprayers: unused wall of fame - go, get it!
“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).
#7
Exsqueeze Me
Vaida Kuodytė 5 years ago
Brick is hard to get, a newbie house would be made of dirt
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Karin Jansen 5 years ago
When the driveway is more important than whether or not the couch fits.
Michael Ng 5 years ago
I feel like going up to the window to make a deposit or at least speak with the manager
#8
When You Discover There’s An Ugly Belgian House Under Your Ugly Belgian House
#9
Please Restart Windows
Sinkvenice 5 years ago
In France, the window tax was officially disposed of as recently as 1926! Which, considering it was put into place in 1798, is pretty darn impressive.
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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.”
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.
#10
I’m Stuck
#11
By Frank Lloyd Wrong
Todd Hollfelder 5 years ago
Does it fold up and have a handle? Sure looks like you can carry it anywhere!
#12
Keep Your Distance People
Martha Meyer 5 years ago
No, just extremely noisy farm machinery and lovely pesticide spray for "neighbours".
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WilvanderHeijden 5 years ago
Nothing wrong here. No neighbors, enough space to make a great garden and your own parking spot.
Dorothy Cloud 5 years ago
Again, probably someone wouldn't sell..............or maybe they own all the other land!
#13
Like A Rubik’s Cube You Can’t Solve
#14
*wink*
Paul Davies 5 years ago
Sure are. They fit in with the brickwork really well, don't they!
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Myriam Ickx 5 years ago
Except there's no way this house dates back to the 18th century. It's brand new.
Load More Replies... #15
House Xs
Paul Davies 5 years ago
You could forget about lying in a bed across the house eh!
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#16
The Statue Of Misery
Grumble O'Pug 5 years ago
This is so bad it's good. I mean, the pebble wall, then the statues. It's like the Grotto of Bad Taste.
Celtic Pirate Queen 5 years ago
OMG - there's a house very similar in the Pt. Loma neighborhood of San Diego, CA. It's got these seashell columns/structures all over the front. Just hideous.
Daniele Ribolla 5 years ago
fake concrete statues are soooo creepy... they shouldn't be permitted in a town house. not to mention the coating in small stones... may be more creepier. may be, one day, a heavy truck, a bad maneuver, who knows? ;-D
Anja Schmidt 5 years ago
this like on vacations in food streets abroad ... makes cheap stuff more classy XD
Marcellus the Third 5 years ago
Nope, that's not the excuse! There's very few "seaside towns" in Belgium --- it only has 40miles of coast for 10million inhabitants.
Load More Replies... #17
When Your House Is A Penis But You’re Not Allowed To Show It
Aunt Messy 5 years ago
Good idea. I would totally do this to my house. Why put up with losers peering in the windows? The owners CAN see out.
#18
50% Shades Of Grey
#19
Zip Up, I Can See Your Chimney
#20
The Architect Had A Vision (Problem)
Anja Schmidt 5 years ago
"we had some metal leftovers ..." or maybe in areas where´sa lot of snow ...
John Morgan Mckenzie 5 years ago
I think it’s a recently added support for an aging roof.Nice!
#21
If I Ever Shoot The Movie ‘Two Alfa Romeo’s & Julia’ I Know Where To Go
#22
Nothing To See Here
Dracos Hufflepuff Buddy ❤️ 5 years ago
SOMEONE IN MY 5TH FANDOM FINALLY!!!
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Talie Bocci 5 years ago
It looks like those annoying old posters where if you unfocus your eyes you'll see the hidden picture (window?).
Paul Davies 5 years ago
Probably because they figured out the windows were going to be much more expensive than the brickwork!
Anja Schmidt 5 years ago
if you don´t like people passing by and watch into your private space - consequent!
#23
When You Used A Condom But Still Got An Std
Tanya Kysel'ova 5 years ago (edited)
I love so much when people are SO sure that something is wrong with things, not their taste
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#24
Adidarchitecture
Paul Davies 5 years ago
Probably because they worked out the windows were going to be much more expensive than the brickwork!
#25
100% Real No Fake Doggo
#26
Stay Inside
Sinkvenice 5 years ago
Someone also commented about window tax on a similar picture and I said that in France, it was introduced in 1798 and only gotten rid of as recently as 1926.
Load More Replies... Lisa Fleming 5 years ago
We had a spell pox problem....when the archit-designer was drunk....again...
#27
We All Live In A Yellow Submarine
Ludwig Michiel 5 years ago
This one reminds me of the album cover of Pink Floyd's "Animals" (Battersea Power Station), only without a flying pig...
Destini Mattocks 5 years ago
The exact thought that first popped into my mind....
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Anja Schmidt 5 years ago
a lot of wasted space, but besides the wall in the front somehow cool ...
#28
Welcome To My Shiteau
#29
When Your First Phone Was A Nokia
Mare Freed 5 years ago
I doubt that's a residential house. Small office building or something.
#30
Aircotecture
Paul Davies 5 years ago
Looks like they went to a great deal of trouble to make the A/C's look symetrical!
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#31
Me When There's A Sale. (Thx Hadie)
#32
Friends With Benefits
WilvanderHeijden 5 years ago
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.
#33
When They Keep Parking On Your Disabled Spot.
WilvanderHeijden 5 years ago
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
#35
So What’s It Like Living On A Timezone Line?
#36
Black & Why?
#39
Who Wants To Be An Ugly Belgian House? Please Raise Your Tower
EpicMineGames 5 years ago (edited)
Well as a Belgian I say go ahead. It looks ok but if u see the rest of the street you'll understand, it doesn't belong there.
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Charlotte A. 5 years ago
This one I disagree with: I think the architecture is quite nice. Looks more church like than home like, though.
Mica Fiverline 5 years ago
Compared to some of the other entries here, this don't look too bad to me...
#41
Architecture Is Peanuts
WilvanderHeijden 5 years ago
Imagine the effort and money that went into the creation of this monstrosity. Which civil servant was sleeping when he approved this?
#43
Oh Look A Tiny House!
#45
Solar Powered Balcony
WilvanderHeijden 5 years ago
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
Bardhi's Dad 5 years ago
Is there a green pig on the window? Or maybe green teddy bear? I'm not sure
WilvanderHeijden 5 years ago
2 owners with different views on maintenance and house improvement.
#47
He Took It Too Pharaoh
Tomasz Jackowski 5 years ago
does each of those have a riddle you need to answer to enter the house?
#50
With This Weather You Can Use A Warm Hat
WilvanderHeijden 5 years ago
We'll never know. We didn't have a real winter since 2010.
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#53
You Have To Stay Inside But You Don't Have To Throw Away Your Door
WilvanderHeijden 5 years ago
Looks like they decided to move the frontdoor to the side of the house.
#54
I Should Stay Inside
#56
It’s A Trap
Croline Lason 5 years ago
is the pun in the caption intended? "Trap" means "staircase" in Dutch
#57
Suddenly, I’m Not Half The House I Used To Be
WilvanderHeijden 5 years ago
When their parents died the 2 sons got in a fight over the inheritance so one of them packed up and went away.
#61
‘I Fok Horses.’ ‘Pardon?’ Yes, Paarden!
Ludwig Michiel 5 years ago (edited)
The caption is a play on English-Dutch false friends: "Ik fok" means "I breed", and "paarden" means "horses".
#65
When The Battle Between The Left Wing And The Right Wing Got Ugly
WilvanderHeijden 5 years ago
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.
#66
Beautiful Shiteau!
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What do you think ?
Kenny Kulbiski 5 years ago
Most of these I'd call unusual rather than ugly. I kinda like the non conformist attitude. "It's my house, screw what you think."
Geth 5 years ago
No, they're really, really, really ugly. Most of them are either attempts to save money on taxes, or built by people with more pretension than money.
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Christine Down 4 years ago
They are NOT ugly they are country specific. I'm sure if I toured around your country I could find houses that are comparable. This is just another example of xenophobia dressed up as aren't people in other countries funny?
Peter De Cock 5 years ago
It's a project for Belgian TV? Lol they still have to invent the station it'll be on? 😂 Some photos are photoshopped like #3 but yeah some older houses are fixer uppers and not in the best ways, like the one showing a car with bk/wh licence plate in front, very -euh- German haha.
Amelia Betts. Ido this for free 5 years ago
Thanks for the laugh!!! My day was made à little brighter
2WheelTravlr 5 years ago
Do Belgians pay a tax based on window size and quantity? Or are all Belgians actually vampires?
Marcellus the Third 5 years ago
He keeps getting sued by homeowners and architects for listing their houses on his blog (even without locations or other identifiers).
Izuna Kazuki 5 years ago
What you call ugly house in belgium, we call it most beautiful in my country. We live in stacked brick with pile of tile roof there.
Kenny Kulbiski 5 years ago
Most of these I'd call unusual rather than ugly. I kinda like the non conformist attitude. "It's my house, screw what you think."
Geth 5 years ago
No, they're really, really, really ugly. Most of them are either attempts to save money on taxes, or built by people with more pretension than money.
Load More Replies... Christine Down 4 years ago
They are NOT ugly they are country specific. I'm sure if I toured around your country I could find houses that are comparable. This is just another example of xenophobia dressed up as aren't people in other countries funny?
Peter De Cock 5 years ago
It's a project for Belgian TV? Lol they still have to invent the station it'll be on? 😂 Some photos are photoshopped like #3 but yeah some older houses are fixer uppers and not in the best ways, like the one showing a car with bk/wh licence plate in front, very -euh- German haha.
Amelia Betts. Ido this for free 5 years ago
Thanks for the laugh!!! My day was made à little brighter
2WheelTravlr 5 years ago
Do Belgians pay a tax based on window size and quantity? Or are all Belgians actually vampires?
Marcellus the Third 5 years ago
He keeps getting sued by homeowners and architects for listing their houses on his blog (even without locations or other identifiers).
Izuna Kazuki 5 years ago
What you call ugly house in belgium, we call it most beautiful in my country. We live in stacked brick with pile of tile roof there.
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