We confirmed the old Eskimo Factory in Gent as the location of the Youthwatching ‘09 event. The location is a renovated and modernly equipped textile factory from the nineteenth century.
The oldest buildings, among which the “Grote Fabriek”, the “Kleine Fabriek” and the “Promenade”, date from the end of the 19th century. The buildings, visible from the street side, date from 1946 and were also part of the same factory - “Usines Cotonnieres Indienneries Belges” - with a surface of 46 ha. They reached up to the beautifully renovated historical towers of the Vynckier factory (General Electrics).
The factory was divided at the bankruptcy of the Usines Cotonnieres and the building of the current Eskimofabriek was saved, cleaned and adapted around 1970 to the activities of the company De Groote with its well-known “Eskimo”.
In 1996, “Eskimo” moved to Melle, which resulted in empty buildings for some time. The organizers of the Eskimo-parties took their chance to transform this historical building to the fairly successful eventhall. At the beginning of the year 2000, “Eskimo” had expanded to a mega festival, well-known far beyond all bounds. Among many others, the internationally known Dewaele Brothers of Soulwax and Saint-Germain have performed at the Eskimofabriek.
Since the beginning of the year 2005 and after submitting a town-planning and environmental permission, the oldest parts of the Eskimofabriek are renovated.
Eskimo Fabriek
Wiedauwkaai 25
9000 Gent
http://www.eskimofabriek.com
+32 9 272 7878
