Mechelen might be Belgium’s best-kept secret. Sitting halfway between Brussels and Antwerp, this compact city packs two UNESCO sites, medieval architecture, an award-winning brewery and some of Belgium’s friendliest locals into an easy day trip.
I spent a day here, just a 20-minute train ride from Brussels, and left wondering why more people don’t visit. The historic centre is walkable, the crowds are thin, and there’s enough to keep you busy without feeling rushed.
Here’s what makes it worth your time.
Why Visit Mechelen?
Here’s the thing about Mechelen: it has much of what makes Bruges and Brussels appealing – medieval architecture, historic sites, good food and beer – but a fraction of the crowds. You won’t be slaloming past tour groups or queueing for chocolate shops.
The city has a rich history. St Rumbold, an Irish evangelist, converted locals to Christianity in the 7th century before being murdered by a stonemason. When his remains showed no signs of decay, pilgrims flocked to his shrine.
By the 13th century, Mechelen was one of Flanders’ most powerful cities, flourishing under Margaret of Austria’s governorship until 1530. The darker chapter came during WWII when it served as a deportation centre for Belgium’s Jews and Roma.
Getting to Mechelen
Mechelen is in Flanders, 20 minutes by train from either Brussels or Antwerp. Trains run frequently (several per hour), and the station is a 15-minute walk to the historic centre. You could even do Mechelen as a day trip from London with early Eurostar connections through Brussels.
I’d recommend 4-6 hours minimum to see the highlights, though you could easily spend a full day here.
What to Do in Mechelen
1. Climb St Rumbold’s Cathedral Tower
The 97-metre Gothic tower of St Rumbold’s Cathedral dominates Mechelen’s skyline and is one of the UNESCO-listed Belfries of Belgium and France. It’s Belgium’s tallest Gothic tower, though it was never finished (they ran out of money in the 15th century).
The 538-step climb to the skywalk is worth it for panoramic views over the city and surrounding countryside. Admission costs around €8.
Mechelen is famous for its carillons, bell-shaped instruments that originated in Flanders in the 15th century. The bells in this tower are some of the most tuneful I’ve heard, ringing across the city every 15 minutes.
Inside the cathedral itself (free entry), don’t miss the extraordinarily carved oak pulpit showing St Norbert being thrown from his horse, surrounded by forest creatures. In the south transept, Anthony van Dyck’s Crucifixion depicts shadowy, contorted bodies of two thieves flanking a luminous Christ.
2. Explore the Grote Markt
Mechelen’s main square is lined with medieval gabled buildings that survived the 19th-century industrial boom. The Stadhuis (town hall) occupies the eastern side, surrounded by Renaissance and Rococo-style structures.
The square is ringed with cafes, good for a mid-morning coffee or afternoon beer.
In one corner, you’ll find a bronze sculpture of Opsinjjoke, Mechelen’s mascot, a drunk man being tossed in the air as punishment. He’s paraded through town during the annual Ommegang procession, symbolising drunkards and womanisers. It’s possibly the best city mascot ever.
3. Wander the UNESCO Beguinages
Mechelen is home to one of the 13 sites that comprise UNESCO’s listed Flemish Béguinages. A beguinage is an architectural complex, laid out much like a small town, created to house beguines, lay sisterhoods of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Large Beguinage (Groot Begijnhof) was built in 1595 after the original beguinage outside the city walls was destroyed. A Baroque church and many convents line its peaceful, narrow streets.
The Klein Begijnhof (Small Beguinage) dates back to 1256 and is worth a quick look too, though the larger one is more impressive.
Both are free to wander, though these are residential areas, so keep noise down
4. Walk the Dijle Path
Head down to the River Dijle for one of Mechelen’s most relaxing experiences. Just south of the Grote Markt is Haverwerf (Oats Wharf), where three houses show the evolution of 16th and 17th-century architecture: Baroque, timber and Gothic with Renaissance features.
The first house, Sint-Jozef, has a relief of St Joseph with the Child Jesus. The corner house, Het Paradijske (The Paradise), depicts earthly paradise above its windows. Sandwiched between them is De Duiveltjes (The Little Devils), named for the little devils that serve as pillars on its wooden facade.
From here, a pontoon walkway extends southeast along the river to the Botanic Garden. The Dijle Path takes you under Hoogbrug (the city’s oldest bridge) to Zoutwerf, the old salt port where cargo boats once traded. It’s a lovely way to see more of the city away from the centre.
5. Tour Het Anker Brewery
Belgium isn’t short of excellent beer, and Gouden Carolus is one of the best. Made at the Het Anker brewery in Mechelen, it’s won numerous international awards.
The 90-minute brewery tour shows you how it’s made and includes tastings of two Gouden Carolus beers plus a small gift. Book ahead through their ticketing site.
6. Visit Kazerne Dossin
This Holocaust memorial and museum is one of Mechelen’s most important sites, but it’s not for the faint-hearted.
Between 1942 and 1944, the Nazis used Dossin Barracks as a transit point for 25,490 Jews and 353 Roma destined for concentration camps in Eastern Europe, mostly Auschwitz-Birkenau. Only around 1,400 survived.
Across three floors, the museum attempts to make sense of the rise of antisemitism and Belgium’s complicity with the Nazis, drawing parallels with human rights violations today. Two extraordinary photo albums show SS personnel enjoying days off, contrasted with images of detainees.
After visiting the museum, walk across to the old barracks that served as the internment centre. Most of the property is now apartments, but one wing is preserved as a memorial.
Entry is free, closed Mondays. It’s powerful and thought-provoking – allow 90 minutes minimum.
7. Spot the Street Art
If you’re into street art, Mechelen has some excellent pieces.
In 2014, local artist Gijs Vanhee invited nine street artists to create original works across the city centre. You can follow a self-guided walking route to see them all.
More Things to Do in Mechelen, Belgium
Museum Hof van Busleyden – The main city museum in a 17th-century Renaissance building, focusing on Flanders’ Golden Age under the Court of Burgundy | Address: Frederik de Merodestraat 65.
Winter Garden – An Art Nouveau gem that was the winter garden for Ursuline nuns. Open Friday – Sunday | Address: Bosstraat 9, OLV Waver.
Toy Museum Mechelen – One of Europe’s largest toy collections. Good if you’re visiting with kids. Closed Wednesdays | Address: Nekkerspoelstraat 2.
Planning Your Mechelen Day Trip
If you’re putting together a one-week Belgium itinerary, Mechelen makes an easy addition from either Brussels or Antwerp as a base.
Other underrated Belgian cities worth your time include Leuven (home to Belgium’s oldest botanical garden), Hasselt for the Jenever Museum, and Tournai with its UNESCO-listed cathedral. For something different, try a weekend in Ostend or visit Namur and Dinant in Wallonia.
Ghent makes an excellent base for train travel around Belgium, too.
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.