Charleroi! The World's Ugliest City 🇧🇪

I have visited some pretty ugly places in my time but here in Belgium, the city of Charleroi supposedly has the ugliest city in the world! I simply had to come see this for myself and witness the pure ugliness of this place and it certainly lived up to it's reputation! Charleroi is an abandoned coal mining city where most of it has just been left to rot so as you can imagine it isn't the prettiest. It truly is one of the world's ugliest city! 🇧🇪
Tour Charleroi with Nico, great guy! - www.charleroia...
📱 Instagram - / backpacker.ben
Contact me 📧 - [e-mail]

[@FilippoSperanza-o8y]

What did you expect to find in an abandoned industrial area out of town ?

[@thefarmer4586]

I was going to say the same thing. he didn't really explore the city. I was waiting to see much more of it.

[@nidhogg6344]

It's not out of town .. that s the thing. It's just next to the city center, at the main train station, half a kilometer from the center town square ... :D It's like if it was central park, in NY if you like.

[@daniel-andybecu2804]

@@nidhogg6344 Yeah it's close to the city centre but it's not the only thing in the city.

[@JOSWAY787]

That’s the thing, the city IS and abandoned industrial area basically

[@Aleksandar_M]

The entire city is an abandoned industrial zone

[@frankiestafford88]

Definitely not the world’s ugliest… it even had a decent looking high street! There’s plenty of places here in the UK that are far uglier

[@Redsleather]

The rather new shopping centre wasn’t shown either

[@govaert7]

@@Redsleather It's all for clicks and views, slack video by dull Ben..

[@frontrevolutionnairepaulVDB]

Thank you to be honnest,bro!

[@tribegoldie4282]

it actually looks like the UK

[@itchyshizle]

As a Belgian anglophone. Those were my thoughts too.

[@nomdaploom]

The end of this video, with Ben saying goodbye to Cat whilst stuck all alone in a dingy and depressing hovel of an hotel room in Paris, was very fitting. Ben's dawning realisation that travelling with Cat was a whole lot more fun than travelling alone will hopefully make him appreciate that one rarely stumbles across girls as genuinely natural and nice, as well as courageous, as her. I am hopeful they will be reunited in the future.

[@BackpackerBen]

Damn good comment

[@nomdaploom]

@@BackpackerBen Damn good couple and damn good channel. I wish both of you the very best.

[@samuelcarroll5463]

commitment, love and family are great blessings. Peace and love for the Christmas season.

[@AI-Records24]

@@BackpackerBendid you tap dat doe?😅

[@DarthDainese]

Put a ring on her finger

[@guso1330]

World’s ugliest city? American Rust Belt: “Hold my beer.”

[@Scram673]

Top comment.

[@mickc7388]

Ben was rigt to mention Luton, just like a third world country & you can guess why.

[@Connie_From_AZ]

Detroit Michigan might be better than this place

[@Scram673]

@@Connie_From_AZ maybe but Kat mentioned Sines Portugal and I stopped his video to check. The weather and coastline make it beautiful as well as old buildings. Maybe Kat saw a different view?

[@Connie_From_AZ]

@@Scram673 wait, I don't understand. Are you trying to figure out where he's at as well? 😊 We know he's not in the USA unless something changed 🤗 I'm gonna guess France or South Africa, and possibly David Panama. I'm anxious for tomorrow to see where he chose to go next.

[@BrikSchotte]

Sick that you visited Charleroi! Im from Belgium myself and ive also been there a few times to explore, ive also visited many of the places in this video. I personally think Charleroi is underrated, its such a raw place and i love the harsh contrast from all the abandoned factories, houses and the regular city. During the pandemic, Charleroi was for me the closest i could come to having the same feeling of really traveling, Because even as a Belgian it really gave me the feeling i was in a different country although its only 1,5 hour from my place.

[@6k40_oslm]

Pays noir 😈😈

[@mctubbie1672]

Could't have said it better, the history, people and city is sooo extensive and cool, Liege and Charleroi are two cities alike that build up Belgium 200 years ago. And I gotta be honest, sad that Nico didn't show them the powerplant control room tho, that was the real hidden gem in that factory.

[@da_skool_productions]

Il y a plein de beaux endroits dans Charleroi. Puis, il faut avoir beaucoup de noir dans son cœur pour voir su noir partout ;)

[@toneriggz]

This looks like a Bald Approved City

[@alexanderstefanov6474]

What makes it even more shocking is that Belgium is one of richest countries on earth

[@BackpackerBen]

I know! Cost a fortune for anything here

[@alexanderstefanov6474]

@@BackpackerBen to be fair, Brussels is also pretty grim

[@unelectedbureaucrat2003]

​​@@alexanderstefanov6474Isn't it infested with gimmigrants?

[@ged999]

Shut down to reduce emissions due to net zero targets...

[@KretinzUnited]

It’s far from richest, trust me… but GDP wise yes, which is an indication of nothing here.

[@ValentinaMitchell1]

Dear Ben, I’m so glad you’ve made so many vlogs recently, they have been well enjoyed. I love Cat’s charisma and everything about her! You both do a really good job narrating where you are and it’s nice you reply to sometimes! Ben and Cat fan! 🎉

[@BackpackerBen]

Glad you like them! Appreciate you watching

[@scottsimon8543]

It's mainly an industrial city, but I certainly wouldn't say it's the ugliest city in the world. All industrial areas are ugly, but Charleroi has some nice parts like Hotel de Ville, Place Verte & there are some art nouveau buildings. Also it seems clean. I can name some much worse cities off the top of my head - Karachi, Amman, Mogadishu, Delhi.

[@awsomemodels]

Wait , Amman isn't ugly either😂

[@dacorum8053]

Of course it's ugly! They haven't bothered to clean it up or regenerate the abandoned industrial area. And how can you claim Charleroi is clean! Not only was there litter and waste everywhere, the ground must also be heavily polluted from all the industrial use in the past. The only thing that is cleaner in Charleroi is the air they breathe because all the steel woks have shut down!

[@scottsimon8543]

@@dacorum8053 They only showed a small part of the city. Charleroi is a large city of 200,00 people & all he filmed was the abandoned industrial area. You're bound to find some abandoned factories in many cities.

[@druszaj]

People into UrbEx find these industrial places kind of beautiful :)

[@dacorum8053]

@@scottsimon8543 I agree that many cities will have some abandoned factories but Charleroi's abandoned factories are truly on an epic scale and there has clearly been no effort made to clear or to regenerate the site. As for the centre of Charleroi itself, Ben showed part of the centre and that was ugly!

[@AlterMann57]

Ben, I know Cat will be heading back to Portugal for the holidays, as well as returning to work, but I'm pleased that she is still with you in Belgium. I know that Charleroi is a hideous city, but you can at least eat some delicious Belgium food. The people are also quite nice. As for where I live in New Jersey we have a city named Camden that has been a total shithole for over 60 years, and across the Delaware river in North Philadelphia. There is a street in North Philadelphia called Kensington St. and it is the epitome of the term shithole. Junkies shoot up on drugs around the clock on the sidewalks. The junkies stand around doubled over from using a variety of drugs (fentanyl-heroin-horse tranquillisers etc). they truly are the walking dead, and the city doesn't do a bloody thing about it.

[@zeneataanderson8233]

I think it's sad,these must have all been thriving places to work in & like everywhere else in the world where not needed anymore &left to rust.

[@AnnaMaria-t8t]

👍

[@dumpstertelevision]

America has plenty of destroyed infrastructure in many cities. Places such as Detroit Michigan, Gary Indiana, St.Louis Missouri, Kansas City Missouri, Seattle Washington, Portland Oregon and San Francisco California there are places which look like they are third world country and then a couple miles away is some of the nicest communities on earth. Check them out Ben

[@triptwo425]

There's a youtuber who drives around the places you mention. It's pretty mad to see these towns and cities in America. Eerie ghost towns.

[@Darv-jy1fu]

San Francisco, Seattle and Portland is quite beautiful. St Louis and Kansas City is fine. Never been to Gary or Detroit.

[@jampuppy]

That’s why they shouldn’t be counted as the ugliest cities. Every city has ugly communities. Entire cities? That’s a tough one.

[@biking-viking-claus-andersen]

McKeesport Pennsylvania is probably the ugliest place I have ever seen. Cycled through the city a few years ago, when tour cycling America and damn that was a grim and depressing place.

[@misanthropyunhinged]

amerikkka is a dump no doubt

[@laurenceegan6136]

I visited Charleroi during one of my formerly annual trips to Belgium back in 2019. Coming from a post-industrial city in Scotland, some areas very looked familiar to me, but the people were very down to earth.

[@Tony-tourette]

Love the way you say goodbye to kat with a quick see you later but in reality you call her after and say ‘ I love you and miss you ‘ we are all human Ben ❤️

[@TheAmazingBlizzzair]

I think, universally, between us Americans, Detroit is considered the worst.

[@BackpackerBen]

I’ve heard fantastic things. Will be there next year

[@TheAmazingBlizzzair]

@@BackpackerBen Right on, man. Have fun! I'd give recommendations, but I'm from South Carolina. Not really close

[@Omarshmallow]

Detroit has really turned around in the last decade. The downtown area is quite a cool area to visit. Peter Santenello made a few videos here - check them out and you'll be surprised.

[@bondmood]

Gary, Indiana, USA. And a lot of Northwestern Indiana.

[@BackpackerBen]

Next year I’ll be there!

[@chad-bf7zi]

Funny - I said Gary Indiana exactly same time you did mate 😂

[@johnsiuta5336]

Dude, you really need to come to New Jersey, Charleroi loos like Disneyland compared to some places over here!

[@BackpackerBen]

Sounds my type of place

[@bondmood]

An idea. If you go to NY, you might be interested to check out all of the abandoned mountain resorts in NY. Like the Catskills. Many resorts were just left rotting as they were. A lot of pics on line. People seem to be able to walk in. I've never been, but always found that fascinating. Beautiful area at the same time.

[@BackpackerBen]

I'll check it out! 👀

[@ethanseidl6101]

I live there and have visited several of these former "Borscht Belt" hotels, many of them no longer remain and have been torn down. But Sullivan County in the Catskills has mostly become a very sad, ugly, and depressed Rust Belt area since the dissolution of traditional tourism and resorts.

[@61hink]

Before the Catskills went downhill, other parts of upstate NY did. The tiny town of Ballston Spa used to be home to the largest hotel in the United States, where presidents, senators and captains of industry stayed, but it was long ago torn down. There were other grand hotels up that way too - I remember seeing a huge abandoned, dilapidated hotel when I was a kid - but I'm not sure whether any are left standing.

[@no_soy_rubio]

That sounds awesome

[@Sniperboy5551]

@keonjahanbakhsh7717 Ballston Spa isn’t a dump, there are nice areas. Saratoga Springs is beautiful though, Ben should visit when the horses are running. I’d love to meet up with him for a nice day of gambling!

[@HowToDrip]

Ben after hanging up with Cat: “I wish Cat was here 😢”.

[@sarahhaaniaxoxo]

Ben shows the good *AND* the bad of all countries. That I appreciate! Cat's presence was unexpected and pleasant. She probably won't be able look at Belgium the same way ever again 😅

[@BackpackerBen]

She was devastated 🤣

[@Pauldjreadman]

@@BackpackerBen You both miss each other :) She will be back

[@Daantjer]

What do you mean, bro came to Belgium for 2 days to make a video about the worlds ugliest city and dipped to Paris🙃 At least enjoy some Bruges or Ghent after that Ben, Bet Cat would've loved it!

[@Banunnaki]

Charleroi is a shithole yes, rundown as fk. but why not visit other nicer cities? Alot of these old mines are renovated to swimmingpools, shopping centers, restaurants, climb wall, sports hills for kids. Brits come here to cycle through trees and water go waterparks and eat waffles xD

[@rikverlinden1169]

I live in Belgium, I dont claim Charleroi city in Belgium.. ppl there don't even speak dutch

[@GeoMas7673]

Personally,Ugliest is definitely the wrong description for me, Some of these buildings and architecture are beautiful, “abandoned,Ex-industrial,derelict,run down”

[@nidhogg6344]

As a belgian, i can tell you, our neighbors french have problems with toilets :D We might have the ugliest city, but it has toilets in the the hotel room xD Thank you for showing charleroi. Lived there for 5 years, and it might be ugly, but their ppl pretty nice, unlike in brussels ...

[@kenttheboomer721]

13:46 To me that indoor market reminds me of how resilient people really are. Perfect.

[@AnthonyRBlacker]

I was in New Orleans Louisiana for a couple weeks back in 2010. That city was an absolute shithole. Utterly disgusting anywhere off the 'tourist' streets. It was nasty.

[@MattsYoutubeChannel]

Thats called ghetto friend

[@stephenbarnes5341]

There are cities like this in the UK, old mining towns abandoned and looking seemingly like Charolaise. Empty homes and run down industrial areas.

[@DonJohnson-po4nw]

Looks clearer than most cities...and every country has a rust belt...

[@gloriahoulihan8717]

I have visited Bruges,Ghent and Brussels which were lovely cities. I am really surprised that Belgium has this reputation for one of their cities.

[@samelmudir]

North of Belgium is nicer and more developed than the south

[@alexanderstefanov6474]

Bruges and Ghent are lovely, Brussels is mostly not

[@jackf1841]

Flanders (Dutch-speaking part of Belgium) is totally different from Wallonia (French-speaking part). Like night and day. Wallonia is poor and run down, Flanders is wealthy and clean.

[@JFJ12]

@@samelmudir and here in the North we know that the southern part of Belgium is way more greener, less populated, quieter

[@samelmudir]

​@@JFJ12Wallonia is good if you have a piece of land and want to retire in a quiet area. Cities aren't great.

[@csnwoy]

and for a little while...i smiled again. she's back!

[@GPosner8]

An encore episode with the ever courageous and smiling Cat?! Christmas has come early👏🏻 Sadly, I think there are many cities in the USA that are as bad if not worse. Always great to see a new video the legendary BB. 👍🏻👏🏻🙏🤙🏻✌🏻 P.S. I’d put a ring on that were I you😉

[@SirCarlosMusicBMI]

I’m so sorry that Kat missed her flight ✈️ 😢. But I think that’s what you planned because you just couldn’t let her go 😮. Thank you for sharing this ugly place. Blessings,Carlos ✝️🙏❤️😊🇺🇸

[@29goodvibes]

Nah hes not into relationships i think he follows his mentor's balds steps 😂😅

[@no_soy_rubio]

New drinking game: Every time Ben says 'World's ugliest city' take a shot Update: 1:37 in and I'm absolutely smaifijrrjjlajfjkk

[@BackpackerBen]

Smasheddddd

[@Judy5cents]

The ugliest city I've ever seen in the United States is Cairo, Illinois. Once a thriving river town on the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, it's now largely abandoned. Driving along the main road, you see block after block of empty crumbling houses and boarded up storefronts. There's not enough money to tear these buildings down, let alone rebuild.

[@ragin2490]

Cat is "hard core" and "Cute as Hell" , a outstanding combination.

[@harryg3639]

The world's most dangerous city Ben , is Port Morseby Papua New Guinea , i used to live and work there , never again .............

[@nealart]

In Paris without your lover! Sounds like bad planning!

[@Shawn2ndaccount]

Ben can we just stop saying Kat just happens to be here, and "this is my bed, and there's Kats bed!" You two are a couple, and I think it's awesome!

[@strangersound]

Better call Bald. He just finished a chapter, too. Some new Bald and Ben videos, but with you taking the lead would be super. Bald is technically retired anyway, so he should just relax and let you drag him around the planet for a while. ;)

[@PlayMoreGames]

The ugliest city I've been to in the US is Baltimore, MD. It used to be ok but now, wow just wow!

[@antonyleemulvey8226]

Who needs Paris. Just do like Ben and take the missus to Charleroi for a bit of romance for last 24hs together haha

[@waytosacramento3843]

And then travel to Paris. Alone!😂

[@johnreynolds5103]

I'd miss Kat, she's lovely and fascinating, but I think Ben will really really miss her, that last shot in the video says it all.

[@samandlettie3721]

This is what happens when major employers are allowed to shutdown devastating peoples livelihoods in the area the uk has loads of examples of this

[@Willem-dd1fe]

Basingstoke, Ben, you had Basingstoke and Sheffield (Page Hall) as the UK's most depressing places. But as you said, Luton's really rough, too!

[@jackhui2812]

Cat Misses flight goes straight to HELL! 😅. BUT, nice to see you in another vid Cat. Safe travels to you both!

[@chad-bf7zi]

Kat is such a cutie! I’d suggest proposing then buying a camper van to travel the world in together as you make a bunch of little Benjis and Katarinas

[@materichard]

amen

[@raidensnake9471016]

This is the best ending 😂

[@venger5705]

6:35 lmao the way Ben says this made me laugh hard haha

[@DarrylHayward-hq2zp]

Ben please do a Poll on your next video. Solo Ben or travels with Katarina.... i think we enjoy here joining in and getting so comfortable in front of the camera.

[@wabi1]

Your videos have been amazing lately! Well done always awesome travels :)

[@BackpackerBen]

Thanks a ton!

[@ThomasTheGreat67]

Perfect atmosphere for Death Metal album covers.

[@exploring_things_my_way]

Ben, Jodie says the most ugly city is a toss up between Plymouth and Rochdale...... 😂😂

[@VendDone]

Thanks buddy , u've tried the new things for adventure to other countries Ben!

[@jamminjim]

Hi Ben. In my opinion you lucky to have her around unless you 2 need a break for a bit. That's okay too. Ty for the uploads ! Happy everything !

[@chrissonnenschein6634]

An absndoned factory isn’t really part of a city..unless the former business owners got away with leaving the area as a toxic waste dump so that fity can now build homes and playgrounds x like virtually every port city in the USA “superfund sites”.

[@tbone35453]

Chatham down here in Kent is pretty rough, but this place makes Chatham look like Barcelona!

[@richardwarran]

At least the beer and food are good in Charleroi,think it was a coal mining town back in the day.

[@JotHaGie]

Fantastic, I love running round places like this

[@philmine6498]

Aw Ben, you looked so lonely sat in the last hotel room atthe end of this vid and after Catarina went home, was expecting you to get down on one knee with a ring and a big question for her 😁

[@Jamal_Tyrone]

Anywhere in India looks grimmer than that city to be fair.

[@KjayCarving]

Ayo that very last clip in the hotel looked more sad than the country my guy ! hopefully you get your travel buddy back soon, I think all of us are going to miss her humour !

[@alexcastro7339]

Great setting for an apocalyptic film

[@partyflockske]

or a big underground techno rave party

[@ChopeZzz]

I wouldn't trust a sketchy guy guiding me to some ruins. There is no way I would follow him, so thank you for your sacrifice 😄

[@jeramepinchalk243]

I live in Charleroi, Pa in the USA it was named after Charleroi, Belgium. Because it was Belgium farmers who lived here a 160 years ago that formed this town.

[@laakssim]

That was not ugly to me, I love abandoned industrial places. And actually that was nice and clean for such a place. Even without my mental bias there are uglier places than this.

[@maxmeggeneder8935]

When I saw the thumbnail, I thought "oh no, what is he doing s#itting on poor countries for being poor". But no, it´s Belgium. Didn´t expect that. Keep up the good work mate!

[@marvinbush9330]

What a surprise to have Cat around for another adventure. She is so much fun to have around.🥰😍

[@pete-iv]

Ben, I don't know what things are like away from the camera, but judging from the end of the video after you hung up, you need to put a ring on that.

[@GameStuckFixer]

The worst one I have been it's called Dolhasca in Suceava County in NE Romania. Depresive as hell

[@ShiroiKarasu634]

Wow his jacket fits the city vibe haha

[@snsdjerry]

Yah cat haha tbh she should do this full time with u always loving her in the vlogs Btw a of part Philadelphia felt like shit when I last visited

[@denisekoger904]

looks like a movie set for zombies

[@DjowZDjowZ-de8xd]

What a dramatic ending ❤

[@raidensnake9471016]

Hit harder than Mike Tyson in his prime

[@davyebbers8277]

If i didn't know any better at those abandoned buildings i could've thought you guys were in Chernobyl😂 great vid again though man! Maybe one day you should visit my city Nijmegen in the Netherlands, beautiful and oldest city in the country😁

[@mgm1411]

As ugly as it is. It still safe apparently. In some other countries, you could not go into places like those without getting robbed , rapped or murdered...

[@daniel-andybecu2804]

As a Belgian, I must say that Charleroi is one of our poorest and most dangerous cities. But miles away from being the ugliest in the world. The industrial part is about a 10th of the city and that's the only thing being shown in the video. The rest of the city is just resedential areas. That train station is also not the city center, there is even a small river between them. In conclusion there are tons of cities all over the world which are insanely worse. Charleroi might be the ugliest in Belgium but doesn't come close to something like Detroit in the USA for example or some of the stacked neighborhoods in major Asian & South-American cities.

[@BrixtonTone]

Wow ! really surprised to see this in Belgium, never would have guessed it. Next level desolation in what apparently was once a thriving industrial town . p.s. Bit surprised at the length of the bus journey but judging from the architecture I'd say you're now in Paris .

[@respektetoutlavi714]

Seeing that city in Belgium surprised me, but I’m all for that abandoned factory market. Urban decay whilst shopping 🤷‍♂️👍

[@pmaynard]

It's makes you realise why everyone who lives here drowns their sorrows with world class chocolate, beer and fries 😂

[@bondmood]

And waffles?

[@herroxy801]

Duisburg or Hanover are by far the ugliest cities in Germany.

[@Ndo_ike]

Ben, thank you for visiting my country Timor leste, i am in north england

[@nikpist1030]

Ben i think you moved from the ugliest to the most expensive city... But as always, I appreciate immensely your endurance and effort to show us places we might have never known of their existence.

[@nico8753]

Lived there all my life and the place at the beginning near the train station is brand new, ugly but new ! it's the 3rd times they destroy it and making it new again but this time it's a total overall, they removed all the trees (so stupid) all the city is basically being demolished and rebuild so that's why it's like that, i hope (and also believe) that Charleroi will be kind of a nice city in 10-15 years, too bad i missed you tho

[@richardalexander302]

Seriously planning a trip to Charleroi....great content!

[@nielsrosink5051]

The difference between the dutch and french side of Belgium is crazy. Good food and nice cities in Flanders and shite in Wallons.

[@MrSimonj1970]

Yeah Brugge and the coast where I went was very rich, almost like Switzerland!

[@KretinzUnited]

That is so not true dude, Wallonia can be way more beautiful, you’re talking crap. I’d like to remind you that the Ardennes Belge are in Wallonia… not Flanders!😊

[@MrSimonj1970]

@@KretinzUnited I was referring to affluence, not scenery, try to keep up!

[@KretinzUnited]

@@MrSimonj1970 what makes you think i’m replying to you? You thick?

[@metalfacemark]

i love that you have visited paisley and it didnt get a mention in worlds ugliest city :)

[@lewisdonald7396]

Where do you book your hotels Ben? You stay in some expensive holes

[@azerzz4113]

As a Dutch person. There's a beauty to Belgian architecture, really pretty but somber at the same time. Groetjes van Nederland boys!

[@scoutjohnson1803]

The French and Germans fought a battle at Charleroi on 20/August 1914 where the Germans hammered the French. There’s farming area in Victoria Australia called Charleroi. My uncle’s father was in the artillery during the war in that area. They were supported by the Flemish infantry who ran away. The Australians fired the guns and the Germans as they attacked across field, hitched the artillery to the horses, raced across the field set the guns up and fired again. Sounds like fun.

[@davidkelman422]

Lovely to see you can Catalina

[@markrobertdevison1227]

Nothing I've ever seen in the states looks like this place you are touring. I've been to most of America too.

[@kwslife116]

Gary Indiana or Detroit or Kensington? been there yet?

[@markrobertdevison1227]

@@kwslife116 Been to Detroit, that city Ben is in looks much worse. I have not been to Gary but I had a friend that lived there for a time.

[@markrobertdevison1227]

@@iamstanjones I grew up in SoCal, driven through skid row. Lived in Norwalk and driven through Artesia. Been to all of the buroughs in NYC. I've seen the bad that can be found in the states and I think that city is much worse.

[@americanbobtail1]

​@@markrobertdevison1227- When had it been the last time you were in SoCal? Things have gotten substantially/exponentially worse since you probably have been there. Also, I can give you a tour of the homeless encampments in Oakland (Oaktown), CA and you will retract what you said in less than 30 seconds. I have other hotspots you can go to as well.

[@markrobertdevison1227]

@@iamstanjones Well I'm sure there is a tiny town in the states that isn't pleasant at all but nothing like what I just saw. I've been to almost all 50 states and traveled around in the one's I've been to. so technically I have not seen all 19K but I've seen enough to know what is here.

[@glennharris1723]

Belgium 🇧🇪 is a beautiful country if you know where to go

[@blacksabbathmatters3365]

Another brilliant video mate. Hope you and your lady had a chance to see Bruges together.

[@georgetinant9486]

industrial heartland that has done it's time !!! Good video , we love Catarina !!! Keep making video's with her !!! Thanks

[@schelo2]

Pittsburgh is a great city to check out. Lots of abandoned steel mills and history in the city

[@commoneuropeanstarling]

Lodz and Katowice, Poland are also contenders, although both places are improving thanks to EU money and foreign investment. A couple of things I will add: It's a far cry from the postcard places of Bruges and Ghent. That said, without sounding pretentious, there's beauty in grime and it's fascinating to see remanants of an industrial era. I was waiting for Ben to say when climbing up the tower, "aha!! This is what 10 euros gets you in Charleoi." As always, most enjoyable vlog

[@rjs69]

Poland have some really grim cities and towns, a lot of rural areas have soviet era factories and hotels that closed down and now the towns are dead or dying. There are some amazing towns and cities so I think Poland is well balanced.

[@Scram673]

From what I’ve seen…Łódź and Katowice have beautiful buildings and squares. Check out Newark NJ or Detroit MI.

[@chrisgrys3641]

F..k the European something.I was born in Lodz.We have plenty good restaurants many nice parks, biggest shopping centre call Manufaktura and Lodz is very safe city to walk street any day or night.I can't wait for Poland to leave communist union for good.By the way I wonder which city you living.Lodz may be not the prettiest city but very liveable

[@TheCraigaberdeen]

I loved visiting Lodz from Scotland.

[@chrisgrys3641]

@@rjs69 You must visit Poland long time ego.Which city you come from

[@fahadtahir4651]

Did you have any problems with bed bugs? 👀

[@aroundnorth]

That city looked grim like a movie set from eastern europe, if you had not mention where you were i would assume you filmed in a former ussr country. 😱😵‍💫

[@Omarshmallow]

Glad to hear that you are going to be visiting the States next year. Hopefully you'll have some local viewers with you to help navigate. One wrong turn and you'll be in a dangerous area. Are you planning on visiting us in Canada too?

[@topduk]

Canada is a dystopian shithole, don't come here. You'll have a better time in China, not joking.

[@mickconners9377]

Pronunciation on point as always 👍

[@thtactical4216]

Thanks for sharing Ben 🙂I feel that this video also could be called "Dreaming of a Post-Apocalypse"

[@Andy.01_uk]

Kat is lovely.. you are a lucky fella to have a travelling companion like Kat.

[@Barry1973]

I love Cat She is always smiling. Great video..

[@MACRONOne]

The perfect place for an art-oriented society to turn it into a second-life type of scenario, awesome.