← All stories
FIELD REPORT / ABANDONED PLACES
An abandoned farmhouse on the Lower Rhine. I explore the overgrown outbuildings and living rooms where furniture and personal belongings remain.
Trees now stand in front of the window. Behind them, I can make out the white frame, with darkness inside. Ivy covers the brick wall. On 6 November 2024, I'm exploring this abandoned farmhouse on the Lower Rhine. Even before I go in, I'm struck by how overgrown the property is.
The house behind the greenery
Life carries on in the neighbourhood. Here, the garden is overgrown and branches hang across the front of the house. It's right among the other buildings, yet it looks as though no one has cared for it in a long time.
I look through the outbuildings and stable areas first. Rubbish lies among damaged building parts, and objects remain in the rooms. There's more to explore here than just the house.
The little things remain
Inside, containers and packaging sit on a worktop, among dust and scattered objects. It's these traces of everyday life that interest me. They often catch my eye more than the damage to the house.
Then I find a pair of ice skates. Upstairs, there's a bed and an old television. Empty hangers still hang in an open wardrobe. Finds like these are a big part of why I enjoy exploring places like this.
Dolls on the stairs
Small dolls sit on the wooden stairs. They stand out straight away against the worn steps. They're one of the things I remember most about this house.
There's graffiti on the walls too, including a pentagram and the number 666. What interests me most here, though, is the furniture, the ice skates and the things left in the kitchen.
A walk with unanswered questions
At the end, I'm back outside the overgrown front of the house. From here, all you see are the dark windows. What stays with me most is the small things I found in the rooms.
A NOTE FROM THE TRAIL
Furniture and personal belongings left in the farmhouse.
Visited on 6 November 2024.