This is the ugliest city in the world.

No one officially recognizes Charleroi as such. However, if you search for "the ugliest city in the world," you'll find this name appearing first. This rather unflattering nickname was given to Charleroi by readers of the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant in 2008. Over time, people have become accustomed to calling the city by this name.

The first impression upon arriving in this city is one of towering buildings and abandoned factories. In the past, Charleroi was the center of the country's coal mining industry. However, as the industry declined, the factories were abandoned, leaving an "ugly scar" on Charleroi.

Charleroi's boom period began around 1830 when Belgium entered industrialization. This period saw a coal boom, so widespread that Belgium earned the nickname "the Black Country." After the 1950s, oil became the dominant fuel. Belgian industry shifted northward, leaving Charleroi in ruins with its dilapidated buildings.

Today, around 416,000 people still live in what is considered the world's worst city. Life is rather bleak, and the city is almost always shrouded in silence. During a visit to Charleroi, a Brussels Times reporter recounted: "As I walked, the only sounds breaking the silence were the barking of dogs, the blaring of police sirens, and the shouts of young men being questioned by the police."

Being dubbed "the ugliest city in the world" turned out not to be such a bad thing for Charleroi. Many people recognized the potential of the name to attract tourists, for example Nicolas Buissart. He opened tours of his hometown.

Nicolas Buissart, an artist and resident, has launched a tour around the city. He believes there are many things worth experiencing with your senses rather than seeing with your eyes.

In 2009, Nicolas created a website advertising his "Charleroi Adventure" tour, attracting hundreds of registrations from foreign tourists. However, his program faced a boycott from the government and domestic travel companies, who claimed Nicolas was promoting negative aspects of the city.

"That name was a perfect marketing opportunity. If you're going to be considered the ugliest city, then be the ugliest city," he said. Nicolas founded Charleroi Adventure, a tour company with a fairly good number of customers. Initially, the authorities and the people didn't like it. However, later, they came to appreciate what Nicolas offered.

He recounted, "Before, they thought I was promoting the image of Charleroi as a city that causes depression." His efforts to promote its ugliness have turned Charleroi into a popular tourist destination. On tours, visitors can admire the ruins of the coal industry and some abandoned buildings. If the weather is good, they even organize camping trips along the riverbank for groups.

Anh Thi