Garage Red Beetle / Napoleon Bug, Belgium

Garage Red Beetle is located in Belgium. This location was a mechanics garage, which once had a small shop attached to it. The only photogenic part is the main garage room, which features a red Volkswagen Beetle. This location has several other names; Garage Kever, Napoleon Bug, Red Bug, Maison Pipo and Garage Cox.

We visited the lonely VW Beetle in the winter of 2019, on the Pre-Brexit Tour of Belgium.

Just an abandoned VW Beetle, with no story

I am unable to find any history about Garage Red Beetle, which is unfortunate as I often feel disappointed by this. One interesting note, is that this location is on a main road. Furthermore, it lies between two popular urbex locations. Clearly it has been abandoned for some time. It is likely many of my fellow photographers (as well as myself!) have passed this garage several times, never even noticing it. Hiding in plain sight and fully visible from the road, but overlooked. Perhaps we have all been too focussed as we drive to more grand locations, overlooking this dilapidated building.

Napoleon Bug in A paradise for ferns and plants

Despite being only a single room, this small location is quite photogenic. The humidity and shade inside Garage Red Beetle created a special microclimate. Evidently this climate is perfect for ferns. A huge cluster cling to the wall. Most of the roof is also covered with stunning ferns of all sizes. There are long cracks in the ceiling, and most of the larger ferns are growing from this. Others grow in the grooves between the bricks. Roots and clumps of brown dead ferns also hang down. The vehicle inspection pit is also colonised by these gorgeous green plants. There are more ferns growing around the tyres of the red VW Beetle.

The main visual appeal of Garage Red Beetle comes from the contrast between the red car, and the vivid green ferns. The brickwork textures of the garage act as a wonderful, minimalistic backdrop.