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Standing empty

Rusty operating tables and mildewed beds: This spooky abandoned asylum will haunt your dreams

Photographer Roman Robroek took a series of eerie photos of empty mental illness establishments from around the world

Abandoned asylums

These eerie images of abandoned asylums from around the world are enough to send a chill down your spine.

From crumbling buildings to decaying medical equipments, many would think twice before stepping into any of these empty psychiatric hospitals - but not for one plucky photographer.

 Many would think twice before stepping into any of these eerily empty asylums
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Many would think twice before stepping into any of these eerily empty asylumsCredit: Caters News Agency

Roman Robroek, from the Netherlands, has captured a haunting series of pictures - which are not for the faint-hearted - after visiting a number of asylums that resemble a scene from a horror film.

Many of his images feature what used to be treatment chairs, prayer rooms, mailboxes and sleeping quarters.

 Photographer Roman Robroek has captured a haunting series of pictures of abandoned asylums from around the world
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Photographer Roman Robroek has captured a haunting series of pictures of abandoned asylums from around the worldCredit: Caters News Agency
 The 29-year-old photographer visited abandoned building in Italy, Germany and Poland to shoot asylums
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The 29-year-old photographer visited abandoned building in Italy, Germany and Poland to shoot asylumsCredit: Caters News Agency
 A rusty operating table taken in an unnamed hospital
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A rusty operating table taken in an unnamed hospitalCredit: Caters News Agency
 Roman never reveals their exact location - only the country
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Roman never reveals their exact location - only the countryCredit: Caters News Agency

Roman has visited the likes of Italy, Germany and Poland to shoot asylums but admitted visiting such locations comes with an air of sadness and decides to leave after getting the feeling he simply should not be in a certain room.

The 29-year-old, who also visits abandoned castles, churches, factories and theatres, among other buildings, revealed asylums are one of his favourite locations to shoot.

 

 

He said: "The asylums with a lot of decay are the ones I love. Somehow I find there is something secret about asylums - there are rooms I would never see if the asylum was still in use.

"More than other locations I feel very privileged to peek inside. The equipment I run into is often so old and interesting - it's amazing - and next to that it often happens that I find human bones or detailed private psychic reports from years ago."

 He does this in order to protect the buildings from graffiti artists and vandals
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He does this in order to protect the buildings from graffiti artists and vandalsCredit: Caters News Agency
 Roman also revealed asylums are one of his favourite locations to shoot
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Roman also revealed asylums are one of his favourite locations to shootCredit: Caters News Agency
 The peeling walls of what's left inside one of the empty rooms
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The peeling walls of what's left inside one of the empty roomsCredit: Caters News Agency
 Some rooms resemble a scene from a horror film
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Some rooms resemble a scene from a horror filmCredit: Caters News Agency
 Empty hospital beds at an unknown asylum location
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 Empty hospital beds at an unknown asylum locationCredit: Caters News Agency

Roman believes there are two types of abandoned asylums, those that remain in relatively good condition and those that are very decayed.

Despite carrying out a large amount of research to find these buildings, Roman never reveals their exact location, only the country.

He does this in order to protect the buildings from graffiti artists and vandals.

The photographer added: "It's not all about photography, it's the complete experience in an abandoned asylum that makes it so amazing to me.

"Also I mostly feel 'safe' in asylums. They are so big that I could easily hide from security if there was any, which makes it slightly more relaxed to explore."

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