Baccardi’s: A Legendary Nightclub Remembered in Eksel

Our blog has been widely read, and we’re grateful for all the feedback we’ve received from readers who share our passion for legendary nightclubs. Among the many responses, one name keeps coming up: Baccardi’s in Eksel. After visiting The Wall in Weelde, we decided to head over to Hoofdstraat in Eksel to uncover the history of Baccardi’s.

When we arrived, we discovered a photo of Baccardi’s on the Legendary Belgium Clubs Facebook page. This image captured the original appearance of the building, giving us a glimpse into the past. However, we knew before our visit that we wouldn’t see Baccardi’s as it once was. Searching for information on Baccardi’s online, we quickly came across newspaper articles from 2006. These articles explained that the club’s owner had ceased operations in 2000, with no future plans for the property. Because of its historical significance, Eksel’s town council initially opposed the demolition of this building, which had previously housed a brewery and was recognized as a 19th-century heritage site. Unfortunately, despite local efforts to preserve it, permission was eventually granted to demolish Baccardi’s.

While searching online, we found some old photos of Baccardi’s interior, showcasing its unique charm and iconic design. The images evoked memories of the club’s heyday, when Baccardi’s in Eksel was a beloved destination for partygoers throughout the region.

On our first visit, we accidentally took photos of the wrong location, only realizing later that we hadn’t captured the famous Limburg club. Determined to document the real Baccardi’s, we returned on a sunny holiday to photograph the exact spot where this famous club once stood. However, as you might expect, the scene has changed dramatically since the original days of Baccardi’s. Today, a construction company has taken over the site, with new homes and apartments slowly replacing what was once an iconic nightclub.

As a tribute to the original Baccardi’s, we compared these new images to photos of the club as it once was. Seeing how much the view has changed, we felt a profound sense of nostalgia for the legendary Baccardi’s nightclub in Eksel, which held a unique place in Belgium’s nightlife history.

For those who remember the vibrant nights at Baccardi’s in Eksel, these memories are a lasting testament to its impact on the local community. Although the building is gone, Baccardi’s spirit remains alive among its former patrons. Baccardi’s may no longer stand, but its legacy lives on through the stories and photos shared by those who were part of its golden era.