Belgium · City Guide
Mechelen
Mechelen is a beautiful and largely undiscovered Belgian city between Brussels and Antwerp, a former capital of the Low Countries with a magnificent Gothic St Rumbold's Cathedral, outstanding Baroque architecture, a beautiful beguinage and the moving Memorial Museum Dossin documenting the deportation of Belgian Jews during World War II. Often bypassed by visitors, Mechelen is one of Belgium's most rewarding and authentic city destinations.
Elect's take
"Mechelen is the kind of Belgian city that rewards those who look beyond the obvious. The cathedral is magnificent, the city has a beautiful and authentic character and the combination of outstanding heritage and excellent local restaurants creates something genuinely enjoyable."
St Rumbold's Cathedral is one of the finest Gothic cathedrals in Belgium with an extraordinary unfinished tower — planned as the highest in Christendom — and outstanding interior art. The Beguinage of Mechelen is a beautiful enclosed community of medieval houses now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Grand Béguinage de Mechelen, along with others across Belgium, represents an extraordinary social and architectural heritage. The Memorial Museum Dossin, situated in the former transit camp from which over 25,000 Belgian Jews and Roma were deported, provides one of the most thoughtful and moving Holocaust memorial experiences in Europe. The city's carillon tradition is outstanding.
Best time to visit
How to get there
What to expect
St Rumbold's Cathedral
One of Belgium's finest Gothic cathedrals with an extraordinary unfinished planned tower.
Memorial Museum Dossin
One of Europe's most thoughtful Holocaust memorial museums in the former transit camp.
Beguinage
A beautiful UNESCO listed medieval enclosed community of remarkable preservation.
Carillon Tradition
An outstanding bell ringing tradition in the cathedral tower.
Mechelen Coucou
The famous Malines cuckoo chicken, a local culinary tradition of outstanding quality.
Former Capital
The former capital of the Low Countries with extraordinary court heritage and archives.
