21 must do’s in Mechelen
Mechelen is a 15-minute train ride away yet I didn’t visit this city as much as I visited Brussels, Antwerp or Leuven. Here are my must do’s when in Mechelen.
1) Brusselpoort
The Brusselpoort (Brussels gate) is the only city gate out of 12 gates still standing from the 13th century. The Brusselpoort was the highest gate and is thus called the Overste Poort (superior gate).
2) Nun’s winter garden
There is also a winter garden in Mechelen. The Ursuline Nuns of Mechelen made a winter garden with a stunning stained-glass roof.
3) Onze Lieve Vrouw van Hanswijk
The Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Hanswijk (Basilica of Our Lady of Hanswijk) has a Madonna sculpture that is over 1000 years old! Worth the look!
4) Dijlepad
The Dijlepad (Dyle Path) is a path alongside the river Dijle to enjoy the cityscape. I use a part of the Dijlepad to go to the cinema in Mechelen. Be sure to use Mosquito spray in the summer!
5) Haverwerf
The Haverwerf (Oats yard) is a district named after oats because this was the place where boats stopped to sell their oats. Go to the Haverwerf to check out some cool buildings from the 16th century!
6) Het zotte kunstkabinet
The Zotte Kunstkabinet is a museum with a gallery containing odd paintings from the 16th century.
7) St. Romboutstoren
If you think of Mechelen, you should think of the UNESCO protected St. Romboutstoren (Saint rumbold’s Tower). The construction of the tower started in 1452 but was never finished. The tower used to keep the most important documents safe. The tower also serves as a belfry. Make sure to go to the top to have a magnificent view of the city.
Fun Fact: In 1687 a man thought the cathedral was on fire. Everyone carried buckets of water to the top to establish that the tower was not on fire but that the moonlight mislead them. Since that day, inhabitants of Mechelen are called Maneblussers (Moon Extinguishers) as they made up a story that they were extinguishing the moon that night.
8) Schepenhuis
Go to the Schepenhuis to see artworks of artists born in Mechelen
9) Stadhuis
The city hall of Mechelen is kind of unique as it looks like a castle and that it’s build-out of 3 buildings: a belfry, council hall and cloth hall.
Fun Fact: Mechelen is the only city with 2 UNESCO World Heritage belfries: the St. Rumbold’s tower and the belfry of city hall.
10) Bruul Shopping Street
The Bruul is the main shopping street in Mechelen. Make sure to check out the Koninklijke Beiaardschool “Jef Denyn” (Royal Carillon School “Jef Denyn”) on the Bruul. This building is from 1922 and is the first and largest carillon school in the world.
11) Courthouse
The courthouse of Mechelen was a palace in the 16th century. Margaret of Austria even lived here. The gardens are still there so take your time and take a stroll.
Fun Fact: The courthouse was the first building in Mechelen built in Renaissance style.
12) St. John’s Church
This church was built in the 15th century and has a painting of Peter Paul Rubens.
13) House of Refuge of Tongerlo Abbey
The Refugie van de Abdij van Tongerlo (Tongerlo Refuge) has a world-renowned tapestry restoration and weaving workshop. People used to come here in medieval times to visit the Archbishop of Mechelen.
14) Begijnhof
A Begijnhof (Beguinage) is a place where women live in a community but not in a religious way (so no nuns). It was very popular in the old ages but is not practiced anymore now. The Begijnhof of Mechelen was built in the 13th century and can be split up in a small and large Begijnhof. The small Begijnhof was for the older beguines and the large Begijnhof was for the fit and younger beguines.
Fun Fact: All Beguinages from Belgium are UNESCO World Heritage Site.
15) Dossin barracks
The Dossin barracks are a museum where you can learn more about WW2 in Mechelen. The Dossin Barracks was used by the Nazis during WW2 as a deportation center. More than 25.000 Jews were sent to Auschwitz but only 1.000 survived.
16) Brewery Het Anker
Visit a brewery in Mechelen: Het Anker. The brewery started in 1369 and is one of the oldest breweries in Belgium. Their most famous beer is the Carolus.
17) Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden is a nice park to chill in the city center. Locals come here to relax or picnic.
18) Mechelen Muurt
Mechelen Muurt is a street art project where you follow a street art route and check out murals in the city painted by 10 different international artists.
19) Fort van breendonk
This historical monument lies in the West of Mechelen and was built as a defensive fortification for the city of Antwerp. During WW2, the fortress became a Nazi concentration camp. This fortress is close to my home and I’ve visited this fortress already for a couple of times as part of a school trip. You’ll learn so much about its history, walk around the corridors and the cruelty that happened there.
Sad Fact: This isn’t located in the city of Mechelen. It lies outside the city.
20) Technopolis
When I was a kid, some of my friends had their birthday parties at Technopolis. Technopolis is a science museum for adults and kids where you learn about science in a fun way.
Sad Fact: It’s not in the center of Mechelen. Take bus 282 to Technopolis.
21) Planckendael
Planckendael is the zoo of Mechelen. The zoo lets you visit the 5 continents with different routes. When I saw the lions I was a bit disappointed how small their space is. I still prefer a safari above the zoo!
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