Mechelen Things to Do Tips by kbl

The Planckendael zoo is located in Muizen, a small town that is part of Mechelen. I've created a small travelogue on
Planckendael Zoo.

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Address: Leuvensesteenweg
Directions: When leaving Mechelen by car, follow the signs "Leuven"

In the early 90's was a part of the former "Kazerne Dossin de Saint Georges" transformed to a museum.

The barracks were used during the war (1939-1945) as the place where the germans collected the prisoners in order to have them on transport to Auschwitz and other camps.

The museum is one of the few that is located inside the places where the deportation had place.

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Address: Goswin de Stassarstraat 153, 2800, Mechelen
Website: http://www.cicb.be

The museum is an active exhibit of all kinds of science elements (gravity, power, speed, ...) that are not only explained, but can be felt as well. A must go with kids (+8).

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Directions: E19 highway Brussels - Antwerp, Exit "Mechelen-Zuid"
Website: http://www.technopolis.be

When you would like to have some fresh air in Mechelen, while not going to far away from the city, the vrijbrokepark is the place to go.

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Directions: Hombeeksesteenweg (the road that goes from the Brusselsepoort towards Hombeek)

The 'Schepenhuis' is the building that is located at the end of the Ijzerenleen, just before you enter the Grote Markt (Grand Place).

This building was one of the first official buildings built in stone in these regions.

The Schepenhuis was used by the "Large Counsil" as their meetingplace in the 15th and 16th century. In 1616, the Grand Counsil changed places and the building had several functions before it became a museum in 2000.

It now hosts a collection that is mainly 16th century artwork that was created in and arround Mechelen.



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Directions: Ijzerenleen / Grote Markt

When you are in Mechelen, you will go and walk over the Ijzerenleen. In fact, it's the busiest street when leaving the grand place.

You may be attracted by the many shops in this street or by the market on saturday but... when you take a few more minutes and look up: you will notice the beatifull rooftops that are present on allmost all houses in this street.

Most people living in Mechelen have never looked up to these beatifull houses and they don't know what they are missing.

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Address: Ijzerenleen

The Brusselpoort (gate to Brussels) is one of the remains of the older walls that surrounded the city of Mechelen.

It's the only remaining gate of Mechelen. There used to be 12 of them. The Brusselsepoort was built in the 13th century.

Nowadays, this gate is called Brusselsepoort, but in earlier days, it was called the "uppergate", as it was the tallest of the 12 gates that surrounded Mechelen. The towers have been lowered in the 16th century.

Nice to know: this building was once the atelier of the artist Alfred Ost. Nowadays, it's a museum.



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Directions: You will notice this building on the ring (the roads that circle around Mechelen) on the south-east-side of town, where the ring meets the Hoogstraat.

When you walk in the centre of Mechelen, take a few minutes to go to the area that spans the Lange Schipstraat, the Guldenstraat and the Zoutwerf. (This is located at the end of the Ijzerenleen)

You will see that on the Zoutwerf, some facades of the 13th century still remains. These are house that have seen passing all these foreign occupants coming trough Mechelen for the passed 800 years...

The picture next to this article was made standing in the Lange Schipstraat


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Directions: on the Grote Markt, go to the end of the Ijzerenleen. On this bridge, you will see both the Lange Schipstraat and the Zoutwerf.

The house of Hiėronymus van Buysleden has been turned into a museum. At the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century, some of the worlds greatest intellectuals visited this man. Erasmus and pope Adrianus VI where some of them.

The house became at the beginning of the 17th century a house of charity (Berg van Barmhartigheid).

During the first world war, it was almost completely destroyed and needed to be rebuild totally. This work was completed in 1938, just before the second world war. In 2003, the outside was cleaned and given its glory back.

The museum can be visited Tuesday - Sunday between 10am and 5pm



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Address: Frederik de Merodestraat 65
Directions: When standing on the Central Marketsquare (Grote Markt) with your back towards the city hall, the Frederik De Merdodestraat the street that is in the righthandcorner of the market.

This museum has an immense collection of toys from all over the world an from all ages. The oldest toys are from centuries ago. Even the bike of belgiums king Leoplod III can be seen here. But also board games, small soldiers, matchbox-cars, trains, and much more. A must see, with or without children.

The museum has been appointed the title Cultural Ambassador for Flander in 1995.

The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm, not on newyearsday, 24 December, Christmas and 31 December.



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Address: Nekkerspoel 21 - 2800 Mechelen
Website: www.speelgoedmuseum.be