PHOTOS: Belgium's Vintage WWII Vehicle Cemetery

In a narrow woodland clearing near the village of Chatillon, in southern Belgium, was arguably one of Europe's most intriguing vehicle cemeteries.

(All images by Theo van Vliet)

The majority of vintage cars that lay corroding into the earth had belonged to US service personnel stationed in Belgium during World War Two. Unable to ship their cars overseas when the war ended, they parked them in the forest with the intention of returning at some point to retrieve them.

But the decades passed as the cars steadily decayed. Left to the elements, the Chatillon car graveyard expanded over time, allegedly added to by soldiers stationed in the area since the war -- and no doubt a magnet for souvenir hunters.

What began as a temporary means of vehicle storage during the 1940s eventually morphed into an offbeat tourist attraction, drawing photographers and urban explorers from across the globe. (More photos here.)

But sadly, it appears that this treasure trove of automotive history is now a thing of the past.