Mechelen Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
city in the province of Antwerp, Belgium
About Mechelen
It lies about halfway betweenAntwerpandBrusselsand has approximately 80,000 inhabitants. Though now in the shadow of Brussels, Mechelen is a historically important city in its own right. From 1506 to 1530 it was the capital of the Netherlands under Margaret of Austria. In 1559 it became an archbishopric, a sign of great importance. It was famous for its wood carvings, some of which can still be seen in the churches of the city, and for lace and tapestry manufacture. Mechelen is developing into the centre of non-profit or non-governmental organizations for Flanders. Some famous examples are Natuurpunt, AFS, and the Red Cross. This is mainly because it's very easily reachable (by train or by highway) but not as expensive as Brussels. Inhabitants are called "Maneblussers" (moon-extinguish
Top Attractions in Mechelen
Explore the best things to see and do in Mechelen:
- ★16th Century Houses
- ★Beguinage Church
- ★Clocks and watches Museum
- ★De Nekker
- ★Dossin Barracks
- ★Maanrock
- ★Market Square
- ★Palace of Busleyden
Where to Eat in Mechelen
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴De Cirque
- 🍴Hete Patat
- 🍴Intermezzo
Where to Stay in Mechelen
- 🏨Best Western Gulden Anker
- 🏨Hobbit Hotel Mechelen
- 🏨Holiday Inn Express Mechelen City Centre
- 🏨Hotel 3 Paardekens
- 🏨Hotel Brouwerij Het Anker
- 🏨Hotel Den Grooten Wolsack
Mechelen Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 12 sections including: