Leuven (Brussels Morning newspaper) – Leuven’s “Plankenkoorts” exhibition at the former De Lijn depot features skateboards, youth street culture photos, and Sachi’s YouTube content. CO Volt students lead the project until 15 January, 2026.
As VRT News reported, Leuven has opened an exhibition called “Plankenkoorts” that focuses on skateboarding and youth street culture.
“Our design and photography students worked on the exhibition,”
says Arnoldine Peters of CO Volt in Heverlee.
What makes Leuven’s Plankenkoorts exhibition a hub for youth, skateboards, and art?
Officials mentioned that the exhibition shows how skateboards represent freedom, courage, and creativity. Visitors can see boards that are painted, scratched, or decorated by young artists. The exhibition also includes photographs of street life and youth culture.
The exhibition also features the work of street influencer Sachi, who helped create content for YouTube. This allows the exhibition to reach a wider audience online. “Plankenkoorts” combines physical displays with digital media.
Leuven has chosen the former De Lijn depot as the location for the “Plankenkoorts” exhibition. Since 2018, the depot has served as a meeting place for young people. The site includes a covered skate park, a graffiti wall, rehearsal rooms, a DI studio, and other creative spaces. It has become a hub for youth activities and artistic expression. The exhibition will remain open at the old De Lijn depot until January 15, 2025.
“With the exhibition, we want to portray our second-chance students in a positive light. Their achievements can only increase their self-confidence,”
laughs Arnoldine.
“Our students have already had enough ‘school’ This project isn’t an assignment, it’s a stage,”
says teacher Fabien DeLathauwer.
“Don’t expect a sterile gallery, but a skate park as an exhibition space, where art is constantly in motion.”
Projects similar to “Plankenkoorts” have taken place before in Belgium and other countries. These events focus on skateboarding, street art, and youth culture. In Ghent, the city hosted exhibitions where young people could customise skateboards, create murals, and participate in live demonstrations.
Antwerp has run programs where skateparks also acted as creative hubs with workshops in graffiti, music, and photography. In Europe, cities like Berlin, Barcelona, and Copenhagen have held events that combine skateboarding with art and urban culture, showing boards, photography, and videos of local skate scenes.
