The Burgundian Renaissance marked the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of modern times. It was an immensely creative period in Flemish history, full of prosperity and fast and radical changes. During that time, Mechelen was the capital of the Burgundian Netherlands.

Nowadays, Mechelen is still marked by those Burgundian times and most of its architectural heritage can be admired by strolling through the city center. If you want to explore Mechelen’s Burgundian highlights in a more organized ways, a booklet comprising several loops of different lengths, as well as interesting anecdotes, is available for 3,50 EUR at the city’s tourism office Visit Mechelen (Vleeshouwersstraat 6). Small tip: even if you don’t want to buy anything, the tourism office is still worth a visit since it’s located in one of Flanders’ oldest town halls, the Schepenhuis.

Hof van Busleyden

The recently reopened museum Hof van Busleyden is located in a remarkable Renaissance palace in Mechelen and features various exhibitions about the city’s Burgundian past and the ideas of famous figures such as Margaret of Austria, Thomas More, and Erasmus. Moreover, the museum’s interactive display aims at providing a meeting place in which ideas about the past, the present, and the future can be exchanged just in the way they were communicated during Burgundian times. Rooms are designed in very interesting ways, for example displaying Margaret of Austria’s famous choir book while playing actual 16^th century polyphonic music. Standing in different corners of this room, you can listen to the different voices (bass, soprano, tenor, etc.).

Where? Frederik de Merodestraat 65

When? Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Thu: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Prices? 5 – 11 euros

8 historical churches

Mechelen also hosts eight historical churches that are all in walking distance and free to visit. Many of them have been restored in all their glory.

1. Begijnhofkerk: 17^th Century baroque church, UNESCO heritage, hosting an intact collection of paintings
2. Sint-Janskerk: Gothic church with Baroque interior, hosting an important collection of art including Rubens’s famous baroque triptych ‘the adoration of the three wise men’ (closed on Wednesdays)
3. Sint-Katelijnekerk: 14^th Century gothic church with wooden barrel vaulted (closed on Wednesdays)
4. Sint-Romboutskathedraal: Gothic and Mechelen’s largest church. The inside is breathtaking, including artwork by Van Dyck and a stunning altar designed by Lucas Faydherbe.
5. Sint-Pieter-En-Paulkeerk: Baroque church, richly decorated interior (closed on Wednesdays)
6. Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Van Hanswijkbasiliek: One of the few basilicas in Belgium. Baroque with dome, labyrinth, and treasure chamber, designed by Lucas Faydherbe
7. Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Over-De-Dijlekerk: Gothic church with modern stained-glass windows and hosting another triptych by Rubens entitled ‘the miraculous draught of fishes’ (closed on Wednesdays)
8. Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Van Leliëndaalkerk: 17^th Century baroque church, architect: Lucas Fadherbe. The gatehouse right next to the church has been transformed into the Brasserie De Margriet which terrace is a quiet (slightly expensive) spot in the middle of Mechelen’s busy shopping street de Bruul.

Art Nouveau

The Winter Garden of the Ursuline nuns lies a 20 minutes car ride outside of Mechelen. However, it is worth being included into this list. The garden has a morning and an evening side, and it features a stunning colorful stained-glass cupola. Visit Mechelen press consultant Veerle Lenaerts said, “The garden is truly an amazing place and my number one tip for Mechelen. The architect of the building is unknown, which makes the place undiscovered and very unique.”

Where? Bosstraat 9, 2861 Sint-Katelijne-Waver

When? March-October: every Sunday at 2.30 p.m.; November-March: every third Sunday of the month

Prices? 10 euros

World War II and Human Rights

World War II was a dark chapter in Mechelen’s history. The city was very important to Germany, mainly due to its central location and train connection. Between 1942 and 1944, the Nazis used the Dossin barracks as a Sammellager (transit camp) for the deportation of 26,000 Jews, Roma, and Sinti to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Only five percent of the deported survived.

Facing the former barracks, a new museum was built called Kazerne Dossin. The museum tells stories of discrimination and mass-violence, as well as of hope and resistance: “We pause to think about past and present human rights violations.” What is remarkable about Kazerne Dossin is its online image bank which includes many portraits of deportees from the Kazerne. The images can also be seen on the portrait wall in the museum.

Where? Goswin de Stassartstraat 153

When? Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri (Sat, Sun): 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Prices? 4 – 16 euros

Fort Breendonk

The National Memorial of Breendonk is one of the best conserved concentration camps in Europe. A 20 minutes car ride from Mechelen away, the fortress is still worth a visit. Belgian journalism student Maïthé Chini, “It’s very good that they turned the fort into a museum instead of ignoring its horrible past. I went there with school when I was younger, and it really helped to transform something we had only an abstract idea of into something you can see. The torture chamber is terrible, but it makes everything that happened very real.”

Fort Breendonk serves multiple purposes. It is a place of remembrance, a symbol, and an educational and cultural centre, a place of openness and encounter, supporting all those who have fought for freedom. As such, it also serves the cause to defend and respect human rights.

Where? Brandstraat 57, 2830 Willebroek

When? daily 9.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. (last admittance: 4.30 p.m.)

Prices? 8 – 11 euros

The post Burgundian Mechelen: From Rubens and Van Dyck to the horrors of the Holocaust appeared first on Brussels Express.

Mechelen is a small and picturesque city between Brussels and Antwerp and just a 15 minutes train ride away (9,40 euros for a return ticket or 5,80 euros for a weekend ticket). Press consultant at the city’s tourist office Visit Mechelen Veerle Lenaerts says, “Even though Mechelen offers everything you can expect from a big city – many unique shops, but also a lot of the typical brands such as H&M or Zara, many cafés, restaurants, and bars – the city’s streets are usually very quiet and peaceful.”

Moreover, Mechelen is famous for its arts and crafts culture. If you are interested in experiencing very unique places that are specialized in their own way of producing a specific kind of arts or craft, Mechelen is the right place to be.

Carillons

Mechelen is known all over the world for its carillon tradition. The carillon is a bell-shaped musical instrument that was invented in Flanders in the 15^th century and has been declared a UNESCO cultural heritage. Even though the carillon tradition has faded in most parts of Flanders over the centuries, Mechelen has kept hold to it. The city houses the world-renown Royal Carillon School, the first institute in the world that has dedicated itself to the study of the carillon. The school offers guided tours with the carillonneur.

Mechelen features six carillons in total, amongst others in the St. Rumbold’s Tower. Even though constructions on this 97-metre high building never finished, St Rumbold’s Tower became the symbol of Mechelen and was also named a UNESCO world heritage site. In the early times, the bells inside the tower were used as emergency alarms, later to indicate the time. Nowadays, the bells are still playing every quarter of an hour.

“We love it,” say Sally and Rose from Scotland. “The view from the top of the tower is breathtaking and the tower is so old, it feels ancient. Also, when climbing up the stairs, you never know what’s on each floor and you can discover a lot about the building and its past.” The tower also hosts carillon concerts in the summer as well the Queen Fabiola international carillon competition, which will be held the next time in July 2019.

Where? Onder-Den-Toren 12, 2800 Mechelen
When? Mon-Fri, Sun: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.; Sat: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Price? 8 euros (adults) – 3 euros (under 26). The enclosed cathedral is free for visits.

Be aware: the tower has 538 steps and no elevator.

Tapestry

Mechelen is also famous for its very unique tapestry manufactory De Wit. The manufactory sells its own tapestry collection. Moreover, it puts a lot of effort into conserving and restoring tapestry from museums or private customers. Not only the inside of the manufactory is unique, but it is also located in a stunning 15^th century refuge house of the Abbey of Tongerlo which is worth a visit.

Where? Schoutetstraat 7, 2800 Mechelen
When? Guided visits (ca 1,5h) Sat: 10.30 a.m.
Price? 8 euros (adults) – free (under 12)

Beer

Beguinages were small towns within a town during the times of the crusades. Women, who had to leave their home and didn’t want to enter a convent, often lived together in these towns. The women inside the Beguinages had to work for a living by, for example, lace-making – or by brewing beer. In this way, women became very important for the history of breweries in Mechelen. Two of these Beguinages, a smaller one and a large Beguinage, can still be found inside Mechelen, and they are worth a stroll through their small and quiet streets.

Inside the Large Beguinage, you will find the Brewery Het Anker, one of the oldest breweries in Belgium (1471). Famous for their Gouden Carolus beers, as well as their whisky. Het Anker also hosts an on-site brasserie and a hotel.

Where? Inside the Large Beguinage: Guido Gezellelaan 49, 2800 Mechelen
When? Guided visits Tue-Sun; reception & shop: Mon-Fri, (Sat,Sun) 7 (8) a.m. – 9 p.m. (Sun: 6 p.m.)
Price? 8 euros including two beer tastings

Eight kilometers outside of Mechelen, Het Anker also offers tours to its whisky distillery. If you visited Het Anker and you can’t get enough of it, there are also many points of sale in Brussels where you can buy the brewery’s whisky and beer.

Mechelen Muurt

Every two years, the city of Mechelen nominates a city artist. In the years 2013-2015, this artist was Gijs Vanhee who started the initiative Mechelen Muurt. Ten artists participated in this initiative and transformed streets all over Mechelen into pieces of arts. Maïthé Chini, student at Thomas More Mechelen says, “I really like it when art is accessible to everyone. Coming to Mechelen, I was pleasantly surprised by all these paintings.”

There is a Mechelen Muurt walk which takes you along all ten pieces of art. You can download the map here.

Mechelen is a rather small city. Any of these attractions (except for Het Anker distillery) is therefore in walking distance from one of the two train stations in Mechelen. You could of course aim at visiting all of them on the same day, but to explore each of them in depth and to give them the time they deserve, you should plan to come to Mechelen more often. Remember, it’s only a 15 minutes train ride and tickets are cheaper during the weekend.

The post Mechelen: Stronghold of arts and crafts – From carillon bells to whisky infused beer appeared first on Brussels Express.

From the 13th to the 15th of October, Mechelen hosts what is called a “Warm Welcome Weekend” during which visitors can discover the new autumn/winter collection in its pleasant shopping streets. Merchants will spoil customers a with drinks and snacks, discounts, animation and fashion shows in the street. And the good news is that it is all for free!

Actually, besides the general euphoria related to the event, Mechelen is a very nice to visit, and it is only 25km from the centre of Brussels, easy to reach by car or train.

There’s certainly no shortage of things to see and do here and on the top of the “must do” list there has to be a visit to Rumbold’s Tower. The tower is one of the three main buildings of the city, which also boast the UNESCO World Heritage label (the other two are the Belfry of the Town Hall and the Large Beguinage).

After climbing the steps up to the top -97 metres of height- you are greeted with a wonderful view, that extends from the port of Antwerp to the north and, to the south, to the Atomium near Brussels. The tower also has two original carillons you can observe and six different rooms that you can visit.

Another excellent way to see the city, although from a much lower level, is by taking a boat trip on the river Dyle which runs directly through the city. It is relatively short in duration (about 45 minutes), but it certainly offers a lot of history and intrigue, old and new.  You will pass the fish market – now mostly cafes and bars – the Large Bridge, the Botanical Garden and Fullers’ Mill. You will also spot the highway N1,which is the old road linking Brussels and Antwerp but is now far less busy since the construction of the E19 motorway.

If you prefer to try something different and more challenging, then you should try a stand-up paddle session,  which also takes place on the Dyle. Everyone is given full instructions and taken through a safety drill, plus life jacket and wet suit before venturing out on the river.

If you are travelling with children, then you should try to find some time for another fascinating initiative: “Mechelen sends you on your way”, which criss-crosses the city on a self-guided tour. Children can take over here with the walking guide, jam-packed with fun facts for kids.

The centre boasts eight historic churches, each with its own distinctive style,  plus a fine toy museum which contains one of the largest toy collections! On a more sombre note, Mechelen also hosts the Memorial, Museum and Documentation Centre on Holocaust and Human Rights.

After all that exploring, climbing and paddle boarding you may have worked up an appetite and a good place to sate you hunger locally is Café Belge, an informal brasserie right at the heart of Mechelen, which aims to promote only the “best of Belgium.”

And it does this very well, with items such as grilled Belgian steak, stewed beef with Grimbergen beer and, of course, Belgian waffles all featured on the menu. But that’s not all: there’s Belgian coffee (baileys and whipped cream); “Sangria Belge” (white sangria with cava) and even an “aperitif Belge” (vermouth).  And, since it’s the peak season, you really should try also the mussels, provided by a special supplier.

There’s a small but nice selection of good wines and great beers, including some from Belgium served on draught, but if you fancy just a drink and a snack that’s also possible from the delightful – heated – terrace, with a great view on the city.

Besides the Warm Welcome Week, Mechelen also hosts the Dodonaeus Digital Arts Festival (October 13 – 15): three days of audiovisual art and concerts on 4 unique locations in the city centre celebrating the 500th anniversary of Rembert Dodoens, the famous 16th century physician and scientist.

Dodonaeus is a nice festival in different locations: Polydodo, for instance, is an audiovisual spectacle in Saint Rumbold’s Cathedral where Australian jazz singer Kristen Cornwell, organ player Wannes Vanderhoeven and electronic musician Gottland rework the polyphonic madrigals by 16th century composer De Monte, while VJ’s Blub and Subtiv bring Dodoens old drawings to life with a mapping and laser show.

You can also take an nocturnal climb in the majestic Rumbold’s Tower, where audiovisual installations on every floor will highlight aspects of the cosmographic work of Dodoens. At the top you’ll get a fantastic view on the city centre by night.

A special festival guest is the New York avant-garde artist Charlemagne Palestine who will perform live on the carillon of the Tower (a free event will be held on the 14th of October from 6 to 7pm).

Also, during the same weekend, the Cultural Centre of Mechelen invites cutting edge electronic music performers into this late 16th century church to play in tune with Rembertus Dodonaeus’ writings.

Rembert Dodoens or Rembertus Dodonaeus was a respected physician and scientist who made it into the court of the Holy Roman emperor Maximilian II in Vienna, and whose writing, like his famous “Cruydeboeck”, was, after the Bible, among the most translated and edited works of his time.

Mechelen is a very compact city (to walk from the boat to the Tower takes a mere 5 minutes); nonetheless, it somehow combines the laid-back feel of Gent with the architectural appeal of Bruges.

Good to Know:

• Visit Mechelen
  
• Café Belge

The post Mechelen’s warm welcome appeared first on Brussels Express.