Mechelen
Mechelen is a compact, walkable city midway between Brussels and Antwerp, notable for St. Rumbold's Tower — a UNESCO World Heritage belfry — and two UNESCO-listed béguinages.
Last updated: 2026-07-04
Mechelen is a compact, walkable city midway between Brussels and Antwerp, notable for St. Rumbold's Tower — a UNESCO World Heritage belfry — and two UNESCO-listed béguinages.
- Population
- ~87,000
- History
- A historic Burgundian-era administrative centre, now a quieter alternative base between Brussels and Antwerp
Why visit
- • St. Rumbold's Tower — a 97m UNESCO-listed belfry with a skywalk, AR displays and the only two-carillon belfry in Belgium
- • Two UNESCO World Heritage béguinages, unique among Belgian cities
- • The Dijlepad — a floating pedestrian esplanade along the river Dijle
- • Only ~20-25 minutes by train from both Brussels and Antwerp