Things to Do in Mechelen Belgium: Day Tour from Antwerp

Tourists often skip Mechelen Belgium and prefer to visit the bigger nearby cities like Antwerp and Brussels. I am glad I didn’t follow that pattern. I made a short quick half a day tour to the city and found it a gem of a place. Read on to know the wonderful Things to Do in Mechelen Belgium.

First let me tell you why Mechelen is worth visiting

Mechelen is home to a captivating collection of heritage buildings that are a must-see for any visitor.

• Notably, both the Mechelen Belfry and The Beguinage hold esteemed positions as UNESCO-listed sites. They are part of the prestigious cluster of 32 belfries and 13 béguinages, each counted as one site, recognized for their cultural significance.
• Among these architectural gems of Mechelen Belgium is the impressive St. Rumbold’s Cathedral, a magnificent structure dating back to the 13th century. The cathedral’s grandeur and historical importance make it a truly remarkable sight to behold.
• Best part is you can cover Mechelen on foot, you need not spend any money on transport. Since the place is a compact one it is easy to see all interesting buildings with medieval architecture. We did a self guided walking tour of the place and had time enough to see the top sights of Mechelen.

Best Things to Do in Mechelen Belgium

There are more than 300 listed heritage buildings which can take a day at least to see. Most noteworthy are 8 Gothic and Baroque churches from the 14^th–17^th centuries.

Mechelen is renowned world over for its carillon (bells) concerts. There is a carillon school which offers training to students from all over the world to play church bells.

The many sights and sounds of Mechelen are exhibited in its Gothic cathedral with carillons, town hall, and museums. Furthermore it is worth spending time in the lively shopping areas.

It is also famous for its tapestry, furniture, and horticultural industries.

Stroll along the Dijle Path

Het Dijlepad in Mechelen is a floating footpath along the Dijle river in the city centre. The path starts at the Haverwerf, passes the old Lamot brewery, goes under the Hoogbrug and ends at the Fonteinbrug (Bruul).

The Dijle Path along the Dijle River is a beloved retreat for Mechelen residents and visitors alike, offering a refreshing and rejuvenating experience for all. The Dijle River meanders gracefully through the heart of the city; the river bank lined with lush greenery, tall trees, and colorful flowers.

A nice way to see the city from a different perspective.

Dijle River Mechelen Belgium

Climb Tower of St. Rumbold’s Cathedral

Mechelen Belfry, St. Rumbold’s Cathedral and City Hall feature in list of UNESCO World heritage sites.

St Petrus and Paulus Church, Mechelen

Interesting legend associated with this baroque church of 16^th century is that:

The church once had many confessional boxes to accommodate and hear out all who used to work in the nearby Veemarkt (Cattle Market) where lying and cheating was a regular affair.

Another reason attributed to this is that the Church of St Peter and Paul was originally a pilgrimage church. It contained numerous relics which the common man was not allowed to touch unless they were free of sins. So, several confessional boxes were set up.

Patrolling policemen on horses.

Grote Markt of Mechelen Belgium

Grote Markt is located in the center of the city is surrounded by such impeccably restored 15th and 16th century Flemish townhouses. Additionally there are several places to eat where you can sit down and enjoy the scenery. On one side there is the cathedral, and on the other – the medieval city hall.

Looking at the photos from Mechelen’s Grote market I wonder, “Will I be there again!” It is rightly titled as the heart of Mechelen. Ringed by cafes and bars, there are some wonderful facades to drool over.

Mechelen, few centuries back was a significant center for weaving, using wool imported from England. And the cloth hall here was the heart of the city’s trade. Its proximity to a good network of canals made it an ideal trading center.

Facades of buildings around Grote Market of Mechelen – notice the step-gabled Belgian roof

Mechelen Town Halls

Mechelen has not one but three town halls in the market square – Het Schepenhuis on the right, Huis den Beyaert on the left and the Stadhuis Ayuntaminento which is the grandest of the three.

I was left gaping at its immaculately carved exteriors by the architects, stonemasons of medieval times. It is located in the market square. There are statues of prominent people with their identities mentioned in the plaques.

Stadhuis Ayuntaminento Town Hall in Mechelen was built in 1320. The staircase inside is beautifully designed, and that makes it as one of the most desirable venue for weddings by the locals.

Stadhuis Ayuntaminento

Statues of prominent people on Facade

It is a pity the town hall is incomplete in construction. Right part of the building couldn’t be completed because of lack of funds. During 1500s the left part of the building housed the high court of United Netherlands. During the 1400s the rightmost part of the building was trading place for cloth business.

Due to wars businesses declined and the building could never be completed. For the next two hundred years the building in the middle was left incomplete. It was provided with a roof in the sixteenth century.

Even in its state of incompleteness I found the facade amazingly beautiful! Imagine the magnificence had it been completed! The stunning facades are free to be seen and photographed.

Huis den Beyaert Mechelen

Facade of Huis den Beyaert Mechelen has three lions, two dragons, one eagle seated on the Beyaert. This was the former town hall of Mechelen Belgium.

Beguinages of Mechelen

Mechelen Beguinages are architectural gems of medieval times. There are 2 of them in Mechelen, identified as Large Beguinage and Small Beguinage.

The small beguinage is in the heart of the city. It is the oldest and exists from 13^th century. As the number of beguines increased the younger and more able ones moved out and built the large beguinage outside the city limits. The older and infirm beguines stayed back in this smaller one which was within the city limits then.

The larger one, due to its unique architectural design and typical Flemish character, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. It took some time before we could spot the larger beguinage as it is in one of the inner streets of the town.

Beguines have a sad and interesting story of how the community of beguines were formed and why they built the beguinages. Beguines were a community of women whose husbands and fathers did not return from wars and medieval military expeditions. They did not enter convents but formed a community and lived together.

Back in 15^th century there were as many as 2,000 beguines, but many got destroyed, while some of those historic houses have become prized accommodation for independent professions.

Medieval Heritage Buildings Mechelen

Like I mentioned before in this post there are around 300 heritage buildings in Mechelen, which makes it a wonderful place to visit in Belgium. Mechelen is an ideal day tour destination from Brussels too.

Other places worth a visit are Toy Museum, a children’s farm. While the grown ups can visit the Anker, one of the oldest operating breweries in Belgium.

Mechelen Murals

The street art of Mechelen Muurt is a captivating and vibrant expression of creativity that adds a splash of color and life to the city’s walls. There are 10 huge captivating murals and graffiti that adorn the building facades and public spaces, that turn Mechelen into an outdoor gallery of urban art.

The Mechelen Muurt project started by Gijs Vanhee in 2013 has transformed once ordinary walls into captivating canvases, showcasing the talents of both local and international street artists. To trace out all the murals get the map from Mechelen Tourist Information Office.

Mechelen street art

How to Reach Mechelen Belgium

Location: Mechelen, a charming town, is located almost halfway between Brussels and Antwerp in Belgium.

Mechelen is a well-connected city in Belgium, and there are several convenient ways to reach it. A lot depends on your starting point. Here are the most common methods of transportation to reach Mechelen:

By Train: Mechelen has a centrally located train station, making it easily accessible by train from Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, and other major Belgian cities. If you are traveling from other European cities, you might need to take a connecting train in Brussels or Antwerp.
By Car: Mechelen is conveniently located near major highways, making it accessible by car. We did the family trip by self-driven car taken on hire from Frankfurt. If you are driving from Brussels, Antwerp, or other cities in Belgium, follow the E19 or E40 highways, which connect to Mechelen. Parking is available throughout the city.
By Bus: Check the bus schedule and routes of De Lijn, the regional bus operator, or other national bus companies to find the best route to Mechelen.
By Plane: The nearest major airports to Mechelen are Brussels Airport (Zaventem) and Antwerp International Airport. From either airport, you can take a train or a combination of train and bus to reach Mechelen. The journey from Brussels Airport to Mechelen takes around 15-20 minutes by train.

Getting around in Mechelen Belgium

Once you arrive in Mechelen, the city is easily navigable on foot, by bike, or using public transportation. It’s a compact city with many attractions, shops, and restaurants within walking distance from each other, making it an ideal destination for exploring on foot.

My Personal Trip to Mechelen worked out like this:

We included Mechelen in the itinerary of day trip from Antwerp. It was a long day hopping from one beautiful city to another. The day started with first halt at Atomium where the kids had exciting experience going till the top of Atomium.

We then made a halt at Fort Breendonk but were disappointed to find it closed. Off to Brussels where we did our self guided walking tour hunting all the comic strip murals and wall art in the city. Then after an hour’s halt at Waterloo Battlefields we reached this lovely town of Mechelen. A lovely long day!

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