Advanced CCD detectors are the backbone of modern astronomical instrumentation working in the 300–1000 nm spectral range. The status and results of the different projects to design, manufacture and implement new CCD detectors for the ESO VLT instrumentation are presented. Emphasis is put into ESO's development activities together with industry's, and into first measurement results of thinned arrays in large formats obtained in 1994. In addition some recent cryostat developments are shown to illustrate the different requirements of VLT instruments in this area.