17 Sights in Mechelen, Belgium (with Map and Images)

Margaret of Austria was Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands from 1507 to 1515 and again from 1519 until her death in 1530. She was the first of many female regents in the Netherlands. She was variously the Princess of Asturias, Duchess of Savoy, and was born an Archduchess of Austria.

Wikipedia: Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Savoy (EN)

St. Rumbold's Cathedral is the Roman Catholic metropolitan archiepiscopal cathedral in Mechelen, Belgium, dedicated to Saint Rumbold, Christian missionary and martyr who founded an abbey nearby. His remains are rumoured to be buried inside the cathedral. State-of-the-art examination of the relics honoured as Saint Rumbold's and kept in a shrine in the retro-choir, showed a life span of about 40 years and a death date between 580 and 655, while tradition had claimed 775 AD.

Wikipedia: St. Rumbold's Cathedral (EN), Website, Url, Heritage Website

The Kazerne Dossin Holocaust memorial is the only part of the Kazerne Dossin: Memorial, Museum and Documentation Centre on Holocaust and Human Rights established within the former Mechelen transit camp of World War II, from which, in German-occupied Belgium, arrested Jews and Romani were sent to concentration camps. The aforementioned museum and documentation centre are housed in a new purpose-built complex across the public square.

Wikipedia: Kazerne Dossin Memorial, Museum and Documentation Centre (EN)

St. John's Church is a 15th-century Gothic church in Mechelen. This church is dedicated to John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. The spire is 55.5 meters high and is surrounded by four small turrets

Wikipedia: Sint-Janskerk (Mechelen) (NL), Heritage Website

St. Peter and Paul's Church is a Baroque church on the Veemarkt in Mechelen, built between 1669 and 1694 according to plans by the Jesuit Antoon Losson. Officially, it is called the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul on Visitation to St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Francis Xavier. Next to it is the Court of Cambrai, the former residence of Margaret of York and on the other side the Court of Savoy, the former residence of Margaret of Austria.

Wikipedia: Sint-Pieters-en-Pauluskerk (Mechelen) (NL), Heritage Website

The Church of Our Lady of the Dyle is a Gothic church in Mechelen on the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwestraat. The oldest mention of Our Lady across the Dyle dates from 1236, when the parish was founded. Before that, the parish priest was always a priest of the chapter of St. Rumbold's. Nothing can be found of the former building; It was possibly destroyed by the city fire of 1342. The current church dates from the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. The church is considered to be part of the Brabant Gothic.

Wikipedia: Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-over-de-Dijlekerk (NL), Heritage Website

The Basilica of Our Lady of Hanswijk is a Roman Catholic basilica in Mechelen, Belgium. The basilica is a famous place of pilgrimage in Belgium, the statue was crowned on 30 July 1876 by Cardinal Deschamps by request of pope Pius IX.

Wikipedia: Basilica of Our Lady of Hanswijk (EN), Website, Heritage Website

The Archbishop's Palace of Mechelen is the residence of the archbishops of Mechelen. It is located on the Wollemarkt in Mechelen, near St. Rumbold's Cathedral. The palace dates back to the 18th century and has seen numerous renovations. The style of the building is classicism, which is reflected in the following characteristics: sober façade construction, a lot of horizontalism and a U-shaped floor plan. The palace shows influences from Italian architecture. At the back there is a very large garden.

Wikipedia: Aartsbisschoppelijk Paleis van Mechelen (NL), Heritage Website

The Brusselpoort is the sole remaining city gate of the original twelve gates of Mechelen, Belgium. This imposing structure dates from the 13th century. Because of its exceptional height, towering above the other gates, it was also called the Overste Poort. In the 16th century, the towers were lowered and the roof construction was altered to the present configuration.

Wikipedia: Brusselpoort (EN), Website, Heritage Website

Museum Hof van Busleyden is a museum in the Belgian city of Mechelen, housed in the city palace Hof van Busleyden. The Stedelijk Museum Mechelen has been on that site since 1936, and since 2018 it has been called Museum Hof van Busleyden. After major restoration, the museum will reopen in the spring of 2024 with a renewed permanent exhibition, redesigned gardens and new temporary exhibitions.

Wikipedia: Museum Hof van Busleyden (NL), Website, Opening Hours, Heritage Website

The Church of Our Lady of Leliendaal is a Roman Catholic church in Mechelen, Belgium, served by the Society of Jesus. It was designed by Lucas Faydherbe and is a protected structure, designated by the city council of Mechelen as one of its eight historic churches.

Wikipedia: Church of Our Lady of Leliendaal, Mechelen (EN), Website, Heritage Website

Oud Oefenplein, popularly known as 'Plein', is the social housing estate between the Antwerpsesteenweg and the Liersesteenweg in Mechelen-Noord in Mechelen. It was built around 1960 and has a few hundred residential units. After 2001, a start was made with the renovation of the houses in the district. There are two large apartment blocks in the center.

Wikipedia: Oud Oefenplein (NL)

The Swimming Dock in Mechelen was a swimming pool from its opening in 1924 until its closure in 2001. Since then, the building, which was built in the Art Nouveau style, has been empty. The building, located on the Rode Kruisplein and on the retaining dock of the Binnendijle, is a protected monument.

Wikipedia: Zwemdok (Mechelen) (NL), Website, Heritage Website

The Vrijbroekpark is a park in the Belgian city of Mechelen. It is located on the outskirts of the city and is 65 hectares in size. The province of Antwerp owns it and it is freely accessible every day. Among other things, it organises walks and exhibitions.

Wikipedia: Vrijbroekpark (NL), Website, Heritage Website

Beeldsmederij De Maan is a puppet and puppet theatre for young and old in Mechelen. The artistic and general director is Stef De Paepe since 2013, and the scenographer is Paul Contryn, puppeteer and maker, and son of Louis Contryn. It is a non-profit organisation that receives support from the Flemish government, the city of Mechelen and the province of Antwerp.

Wikipedia: Beeldsmederij De Maan (NL), Website

The Schepenhuis of Mechelen, Flemish Brabant, Belgium, is a building where the city's aldermen held their meetings in the Middle Ages. It is located on the edge of the Grote Markt, between the latter and the IJzerenleen and is considered the first stone 'town hall' of Flanders.

Wikipedia: Schepenhuis, Mechelen (EN), Heritage Website

Theater arsenaal, formerly 't Arsenaal and ARSENAAL/LAZARUS, is the theatre company in Mechelen that merged the former Mechelen Miniature Theatre (MMT) in the 2002-2003 season. theater arsenaal is located on the Hanswijkstraat in Mechelen and has two theater halls available that open into the Botanical Garden at the rear, via a bridge over the Dyle.

Wikipedia: 't Arsenaal (NL)