Mechelen

I had never been in the city center of Mechelen until last Friday when I met up with some coworkers for drinks there after work.

I regretted not bringing my camera, Mechelen was a lot prettier than I expected. We parked under the Grote Markt and (after some gawking, trying to get into the Rombouts kathedral closed and peeping inside city hall) settled on the Vismarkt to celebrate the first spring sun of the year on a terras. It was so nice and such a great atmosphere. I pass Mechelen every day on my commute, one of these days I’ll leave work early and stop on my way home. And I’ll bring my camera :)

Mechelen is a nice city. Counts about 75.000 inhabitants and is an historical city. Mechelen counts more authentic monuments than Bruges to give another example in Belgium.

Most famous monument is the tower of the Saint-Rumolduscathedral (Sint-Romboutskathedraal), shown here in the picture by twilight.

It’s about 97 meter high and it takes you more than 500 stairs to get on the top.

There are many nice things to see in Mechelen. From 17 september 2005 on, there are some expositions and cultural events about the women who played an important role in the history of the city and about women in general.

Certainly worth a visit!

It is a very charming, little medieval city which has preserved most ot its original aspects. The city’s authorities are also working hard to preserve it and make it a place worth living in. They not only preserve the historical aspects, but are ensuring it is pleasant to visit, live here. Many places are reserved for pedestrians, there are numerous flowers all around MECHELEN. They also organise many cultural happenings such as Maanrock festival at the end of august (2 days music festival in the heart of the city with 3 different podiums in different locations scattered around the city). The 2005 edition was so successfull the police had to block the center of the city for security reasons linked to the crowd which had floded to MECHELEN. This summer, they also organised music concerts in one of the city parcs every thursday night during 2 months. All free ! As well as the Ottertrottenfestival in the beginning of the summer in the northern outskirts.

The city hosts a world famous chime school, and is separated in 2 by the Dyle river. The canal to LEUVEN is also desserving MECHELEN.

It is also very dynamic has an economic region : it has 2 industrials parks at it’s outskirts with same high profile companies such as biotech.
MECHELEN is also ideally situated at the heart of one of the most richest region of Europe, half way between BRUSSELS (capital of the European Union, with many international organisations and multinational headquarters) and ANTWERP (famous for its sea harbour and diamond business, important industrial and logistical node). Both cities are situated at 25 km, as is LEUVEN/LOUVAIN. In the 3 city/town you find renowned universities. The LEUVEN university is even one of the oldest of Europe (around 700 years old).
BRUGGE/BRUGES or GHENT are only an hour drive away. As is ROTTERDAM, one of the biggest seaport in the world. PARIS is 4 hours away by car, but only 2 hours by train.

The Brussels International Airport (Zaventem) and Deurne regional airport (Antwerp) are both located at less then 30 min by car.