7 saker att göra i Mechelen i Belgien

What to do in Mechelen, Belgium? During our trip to Brussels, we took the train one day to Mechelen, located between Brussels and Antwerp. Here we found a surprisingly nice city filled with canals and historic buildings. Here we also visited a nice brewery and found our dream hotel.

Table of contents

What to do in Mechelen?

Mechelen is a small city with just over 85,000 inhabitants, located about 25 minutes by train from Brussels. One might think that there is less to do in Mechelen than in Brussels, but on the other hand, it was really nice to come to a slightly smaller city.

This city also had a surprising amount to offer! If you fly with Brusells Airlines and book the Hi Belgium Pass In addition, the price includes the train and 3 selected attractions in Brussels and in any additional city (e.g. Mechelen).

1. Hang out at the Grote Markt

The Grote Mark (Great Square) is arguably the heart of Mechelen. It is home to the magnificent town hall (top image in this post) and the impressive church of St Rumbold. When we were here, there was a lively market in the square, selling fish and meat, vegetables, delicacies and other products. Belgian waffles (without topping as it seems to be mostly locals and other Belgians hanging out here). In the square there was also a stand where people could order bubbles and oysters. Delicious!

2. take a guided tour

A great way to experience a new city is to take a guided tour! Mechelen has many impressive buildings, beautiful churches and interesting neighbourhoods that come to life with a good guide. Ask at the tourist office, located in the Schepenhuis, on Vleeshouwersstraat, just off the Grote Markt. During our tour we got to see the oldest houses in the city, which originally only had names but no numbers. Right next to the "Devil's House" is the "Paradise" house.

The oldest houses in Mechelen - the House of the Devil in the centre and 'Paradise' on the right.

We also walked around the narrow, cosy alleys and neighbourhoods where the so-called "beguins" lived. This was an association of religious women, who were not nuns. Life may have resembled that of a convent, but the women's vows of obedience were only valid for the time they lived in a beguinage, and there was no requirement for poverty.

Today, these neighbourhoods still exist, and although there are no longer any 'beguins', there is cohesion and special traditions in these areas. Many of the alleys also have religious names.

3. Climb St Rumbold's tower

In the centre of Mechelen, just off the Grote Markt, is the Cathedral of St Rumbold. The 97 metre tall and sturdy tower rises imposingly over the entire city, and is one of the first buildings you notice in the city. The church began construction in 1452 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To begin with, you can check out the interior of the church, but perhaps the most interesting part is getting up the tower!

There is no lift, so if you want to see the view from the top, you have to walk the 538 steps. Peter made it all the way up to "The Skywalk", while I (Helena), got too much vertigo a few floors from the top. Fortunately, you could turn around and go down again ...

4. Have brunch at Sister Bean.

Located at Vismarkt 26 in the centre of Mechelen, Sister Bean is a cosy, relaxed and slightly youthful café. You'll find plenty of delicious pastries here. Upstairs, you can have brunch on weekends for 20 euros (2018). The brunch is served as a buffet, and here we found, among other things, a good green pea soup, vegetarian pie with walnuts, noodle salad with large shrimps, halloumi salad, hummus, pumpkin butter and French toast. And some pastries of course!

5. See the museum Hof van Busleyden

Museum Court of Busleyden is well worth a visit! As well as the building itself being impressive, there are several great exhibitions here, including Belgian art and history. Despite being a small town, Mechelen manages to present a modern and stylish museum, with several interactive elements.

Among other things, they offer a really nice story that is projected on walls and furniture, with a figure flipping through a storybook and the creatures in the book suddenly coming to life in the room. Hard to explain - must be experienced!

6. Visit the Het Anker brewery

In Mechelen, Belgium, the brewery is located The AnchorThere was a guided tour. Our guide was very enthusiastic about the history of the brewery and its beer. Very interesting! In Mechelen (as in all Belgian cities) there used to be several breweries.

Today, only Het Anker remains, and the reason is that this brewery dared to focus on different beer with character, while all the other breweries produced popular lager. This decision could have been the death of the brewery, but instead this is what made them survive in the long run. Guided tours are given every day, in Flemish, French and English.

The brewery also has a restaurant, which is very popular. When we were here, every table was probably full, and the atmosphere in the room was high. We each chose a classic dish: Flemish stew with Gouden Carolus Classic (beer), endive salad and French fries for Peter, and Mechelen "chicken supreme" with vegetables, potatoes, Gouden Carolus Triple (beer) and thyme for Helena. We were both very happy!

7. live in a church

We did not live in Mechelen but in Brussels, but if we would live in Mechelen we know exactly where we would like to live. The 4-star hotel Martin's Patershof is located in a former church. There is apparently another "church hotel" in the world, but we understand that this is the only one where you actually stay inside the church itself. The breakfast room is at the altar and the rooms are located around the church. We got to peek into the most luxurious room, and now this is our hotel dream!

Bo i kyrka — I know what to do in Mechelen, Belgium next time - stay in a church!

More things to do in Mechelen

One of the things we didn't have time to do was to visit ... Dossin barracks located at Goswin de Stassaertstraat 153. This is a special World War II memorial site where thousands of Jews and Roma awaited death.

Another place we would have liked to visit if we had more time is the Ursuline conservatory, built in 1900 and belonging to the Ursuline nuns. However, we did have time to check out the Hof van Savoye, where Margeret of Austria lived in the 16th century. Cool place!

Facts about Mechelen

Country: Belgium
Language: Flemish and French (and English)
Currency: Euro
Price mode: As in Sweden
Residents: Just over 85 000 (Mechelen)
Time difference: None
Emergency number: 112
Religion: Christianity (mainly Catholicism)
El: As in Sweden
Water: Drinking beard
Tourist office: Visit Mechelen, Schepenhuis, on Vleeshouwersstraat

Travelling to Mechelen

Flight: Fly to Brussels (e.g. Brussels Airlines) and then train to Mechelen.
Car: 16 hours by car from Stockholm to Mechelen or 35 minutes by car from Brussels.
Trains: About 25 minutes by train from Brussels

FOOD AND DRINK

Sister Bean, Vismark 26 serves pastries and on weekends brunch.
Brasserie Het Anker, Guido Gezellelaan 49 serves traditional Belgian cuisine.
Brasserie 't Vlietje, IJzerenleen 16 serves traditional Belgian cuisine.

SHOPPING

Market trading on the Grote Markt with fish, meat, vegetables and waffles
Schoeckaert sells cheese and wine at Ljzerenleen 28
Matthys bakery sells bread, cakes and pastries at Sint-Katelijnstraat 59

GUIDE: OPENING HOURS AND PRICES

Hi Belgium Pass can be purchased through Brussels Airlines and includes trains and some attractions in the flight ticket.
Opening hours St Rumbold's Cathedral: every day 8:30 - 17:30. The tower can be visited between 13:00 and 17:00, and between 10:00 and 17:00 on Saturdays (2018).
Prices St Rumbold's Cathedral: to visit the tower costs €8 for adults and €3 for children and young people (2018).

ACCOMMODATION

Martin's Patershof is a hotel in a church and is located on the
Karmelietenstraat 4
Novotel Mechelen centre is centrally located at Beethovenstraat 1
Mercure Mechelen Ve is located at Vismarkt 14, in a former fish smokehouse.

CARAVAN AND CAMPING SITES

Parking Nekkerhal is a parking space within walking distance of the city centre, with no services. GPS: N 51.02685, E 4.50048, N 51°01'37", E 4°30'02"
RV parks and campsites in Belgium: List of pitches and campsites in Belgium we visited

13 Comments

Add yours →

Anette says:

There are so many beautiful and interesting cities in Europe. I have only briefly visited Belgium on a work trip 6-7 years ago, Brussels and Antwerp were the destinations of that trip.
How did it turn out? Do you have a trip planned for Christmas?

15 December 2018 - 7:37

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Europe is really full of interesting cities! And yes, we are going to Sri Lanka for Christmas 🙂 .
  
  15 December 2018 - 12:15
  
  - Anette says:
    
    Cosy. A friend (living in Bangkok) was there last week. Travelled around a lot, most of it good but unfortunately really bad air, I hope the wind has gone away.
    
    15 December 2018 - 15:49
    
Lennart says:

Another nice city!

15 December 2018 - 9:17

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Very nice! 🙂
  
  15 December 2018 - 12:15
  
Ama de casa says:

Gosh what a delicious hotel! Wouldn't mind staying there either 🙂 Or visiting that lovely town - looked really cosy!

And then - thanks for the tip! Next time I come across a castle without a lift, I'll also blame it on vertigo and turn back at an early stage 😀.

Have a great Saturday!

15 December 2018 - 9:48

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Haha, so good that I a little unconsciously could tip 😉 I really think towers are scary, haha. But apparently cool views up there!
  
  15 December 2018 - 12:16
  
Our Vantastic Travels says:

Good Bucket List!

15 December 2018 - 11:05

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  🙂
  
  15 December 2018 - 12:16
  
Helena - Oh darling, let's be adventurers says:

Hi Belgium Pass sounds like a great idea! And nice view from that tower, but too bad you didn't manage to go all the way up. I've never had vertigo but I can imagine it's hard.

15 December 2018 - 13:40

BP says:

Mechelen seems to be a nice city. Hof van Savoye is a very beautiful renaissance building. However, I wouldn't want to live in a church;-) Imagine if Swedish Christmas and/or food markets would serve bubble with oysters. Yum! Now that I'm writing this, I actually remember that oysters and bubbles were served at a food market in Kungsträdgården. Unfortunately, the oysters were gone...

15 December 2018 - 19:28

Only British says:

In addition, one of Belgium's better zoos is located in Mechelen. Plankendael with a walkway up between the trees.
Awesome hotel! I know that you can stay in a monastery in Masstricht which is on my wish list. Otherwise there is a church in Nantes. In England there is a small chapel and as a hiker you can spend the night in some active churches. There's also a small church hotel in Aberdeen that I've blogged about, but nothing so grand. The British have desacralised lots of churches that have become cafes and nightclubs too.

15 December 2018 - 19:35

Lena - good for the soul says:

Wow, what a lot of lovely places you are sniffing out! Looks like a cosy town. But living in a church? Njae, nothing for me I think.

Hug Lena

20 December 2018 - 6:10

7 things to do in Mechelen in Belgium

What to do in Mechelen?

1. Hang out at the Grote Markt

2. take a guided tour

3. Climb St Rumbold's tower

4. Have brunch at Sister Bean.

5. See the museum Hof van Busleyden

6. Visit the Het Anker brewery

7. live in a church

More things to do in Mechelen

Read more about Belgium

Facts about Mechelen

Travelling to Mechelen

FOOD AND DRINK

SHOPPING

GUIDE: OPENING HOURS AND PRICES

ACCOMMODATION

CARAVAN AND CAMPING SITES

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13 Comments

Anette says:

Helena says:

Anette says:

Lennart says:

Helena says:

Ama de casa says:

Helena says:

Our Vantastic Travels says:

Helena says:

Helena - Oh darling, let's be adventurers says:

BP says:

Only British says:

Lena - good for the soul says:

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