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Malines, Belgium

Visiting Mechelen in 24 hours: our must-sees and things to do.

17 April 2022

Malines or Mechelen (in Dutch) is a charming Flemish town and a UNESCO World Heritage site (yes, all in simplicity 😉). We stopped there and parked our bikes for a night during our cycling trip in Belgium. We enjoyed a sunny afternoon to explore Malines on foot, its good addresses, its romantic walks along the Dyle and its easy-going lifestyle. In this article, we take you with us to discover our 5 must-sees in Malines and be amazed.

Our 5 must-sees during a weekend in Mechelen.

Walking in the Malines botanical garden

The Botanical Garden or Kruidtuin (in the local language) is the largest park in the city center of Mechelen. A friendly place where families and friends meet on this sunny Easter Sunday. We let ourselves be carried by the different paths of the Botanical Garden of Mechelen and stroll between the lawns, the various water features and the herb garden. On the edge of a pond, we will make the wonderful encounter of little ducklings, just hatched, splashing and exploring the surroundings.

Park of the Botanical Garden/Botanical Garden of Mechelen
Duckling brown and yellow just born at the Botanical Garden/Kruidtuin of Mechelen
Pools with small wrought-iron bridge at the Botanical Garden/Kruidtuin of Mechelen
Woman back with braids and a yellow t-shirt taking a photo in a park in Malines

The iconic Grote Markt of Mechelen

While wandering through the historic center of Mechelen, you can't miss its Grand Place (Grote Markt). Composed of typical small houses with magnificent facades from various eras (Renaissance and Rococo), this pedestrian square is overlooked by the imposing Saint-Rombouts Tower, which can be seen throughout the city with its 97 meters in height. Opposite the tower stands the Town Hall. Gothic in style, it was the first built with Flemish stone.

Typical Flemish houses of the Grand Place of Mechelen
Typical brick house on the Grand Place of Mechelen
Typical Flemish houses of the Grand Place of Mechelen with the Saint-Rombouts Tower in the background
Saint-Rombaut Tower in background
Facade of the Town Hall of Mechelen
Town Hall of Malines

Sleeping in a former church at Martin's Patershof

Want to spend an unusual night in the heart of Mechelen? We have the perfect address for you: the Martin's Patershof. This 4-star hotel was renovated from an old church, bringing a touch of modernity while preserving the architectural heritage of the place.

Reserve this hotel
Couple in the room of the Martin's Patershof in Mechelen
Sofa in front of the stained-glass windows of the Great Room of Martin's Patershof in Mechelen
Man in red t-shirt consultant is on the phone on the bed of Martin's Patershof in Mechelen
Bed and headboard of the Martin's Patershof of Mechelen
View of the room under the vaults of the old church transformed into the Martin's Patershof hotel in Mechelen

We stayed in one of their Exceptional Plus rooms, a journey through time under the magnificent vaults and the colourful light plays of the preserved stained-glass windows. In addition to sleeping like babies on soft and comfortable bedding, we relaxed in the hot tub of the room.

Bathroom of the Great Room of Martin's Patershof in Malines
Bathroom of the Great Room of Martin's Patershof in Malines
Products from the bathroom of the Great Room of Martin's Patershof in Mechelen

The next morning, we enjoyed a wonderful breakfast (with cava 🥂) served buffet-style in the former choir of the church where one can still admire the original altar.

Breakfast room in the choir of an old church at Martin's Patershof in Mechelen
Wine glasses at Martin's Patershof in Mechelen

Practical Information

🚲 The Martin’s Patershof has a bike storage facility in their underground garage. We were reassured to know our bikes were safe during our stay in Malines.

🌿 Certified Green Key, you will have the opportunity to pay your balance with eco-vouchers. An original way to use them rather than letting them expire at the bottom of a drawer.

🔍 See availability here.

Discover the Flavors of the World at the Foodmarket 'De Vleeshalle'

De Vleeshalle is the former covered market of Mechelen. Today, renovated, it hosts a Foodmarket with a dozen different stalls offering food from around the world (Italian, Mexican, Asian, Belgian, etc.), a bar, and a coworking space for those of us who like to study.

Vegetable wall with the logo of the De Vleeshalles in Mechelen
Interior of the 'De Vleeshalle' in Mechelen
Patio exterior of the 'De Vleeshalle' in Mechelen
Bar of the 'De Vleeshalle' in Mechelen
Interior of the 'De Vleeshalle' in Mechelen

We enjoyed this beautiful sunny late afternoon in the outdoor patio of the Foodmarket to have an aperitif (Team Mojito) with a bowl of Nachos from Alma Libre. We continued on our way by sharing a pizza from Margherita for dinner.

Bowl of Nachos with Mojito and Fuze Tea at De Vleeshalle in Mechelen
Pizza from Margherita at the De Vleeshalle in Mechelen

Practical Information

📍 Address • 7, Huidevettersstraat in Mechelen

🖥 Website • www.devleeshalle.be

Enjoy the sunset lights at Haverwerf

Around a corner, we discover the three charming colored houses of the Haverwerf on the banks of the Dyle. From right to left, we have “Le Petit Paradis” (Het Paradijkse), “Les Petits Diables” (De Duiveltjes), and the Saint-Joseph house.

On the other side of the bridge, a few small boats parked for the night, patiently awaiting tomorrow to take tourists on a cruise through the waters of the Dyle in Mechelen. A moment suspended under the warm lights of the sunset.

Haverwerf and its typical colorful houses in Mechelen
Close-up view of the boats in the small marina at Mechelen
Sunset over the small marina next to the Haverwerf in Mechelen
Haverwerf and its typical colorful houses in Mechelen

But even more...

Malines is a city overflowing with activities and places to see. In our 24 hours there, we didn't have time to see everything the city offers. We recommend going for a whole weekend to fully enjoy Malines. Here's a list of activities and places we want to do during a future visit to Malines:

📍 Climb to the top of Saint-Rombaut Tower to admire the 360° panoramic view of the city and surrounding areas. Unfortunately closed during our visit to Malines, be sure to check the opening hours so you don't miss this essential Malines activity. Prices: €8 per adult • €3 from 4 to 26 years old • 20% discount for families (1 & 2 adults with 1 to 4 children).

📍 Walk on water by taking the suspension walkway along the Dyle river.

📍 Discover the charming alleyways of the Small and Big Béguinages of Malines, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

📍 The Ursulines' Winter Garden (Wintertuin), an architectural masterpiece of Art Nouveau located about ten kilometers from the city center. Prices: €12 per adult • Free for children under 12.

📍 For beer lovers, there's also Het Anker Brewery, which opens its doors to discover the production of local beer "Gouden Carolus". Prices: €9 per adult (including 2 beers or 1 soft drink) • €2 per child (under 12 years old).

How to get to Mechelen?

Drone photo of two cyclists stopped on a gravel path by a river and surrounded by fields

Cycling to Malines

Located between Brussels and Antwerp, Malines is easily accessible by bike. This is the option we chose to discover the city during our itinerant trip through Flanders. A more environmentally friendly (and slightly more athletic) way to travel near home.

From Brussels, you'll need to cycle less than thirty kilometers to reach Malines.

From Leuven, we tested a great 45-kilometer bike ride along waterways and the canal connecting the two cities. This route is offered by Martin's Hotel, which has an establishment in each of the cities.

GPX track of bike routes

Our bicycle GPX route to get to Malines from Brussels at download here.

Our bicycle GPX route to get to Malines from Leuven at download here.

Travelling to Mechelen by train

Malines is easily accessible by train with its station only a 15-minute walk from the Grand Place. From Brussels, it will take you between 20 and 30 minutes to reach Malines with departures approximately every 15 minutes. There are also connections from Leuven (± 30 min), Antwerp (± 20 min), Ottignies (± 1h), Namur (± 1h30) and any other Belgian city.

An alternative for those without a car or who want to reduce their ecological footprint. 🌿

Getting to Malines by car

Cars are not welcome in the city center of Mechelen (more information on the visitmechelen website), so you will need to park in one of the city's car parks and put on your most comfortable shoes to walk across the cobblestones and admire the more than 360 listed buildings of Mechelen.

Saint-Rombaut Tower in Mechelen
Alleyways of Mechelen
Alleyways and sunset over Saint-Rombaut Tower in Mechelen

If you've made it this far, you've likely seen that we fell in love with Malines and hope to return to explore the city more. A perfect destination for a city trip with friends or for a romantic weekend.

So, convinced to choose Malines as your next destination? ⛪️ 🌿

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