About an hour from Brussels, you will find the vibrant, yet traditional town of Mechelen Belgium.
Adorned with bushels of flowers, Mechelen is a small cozy spot with a lot to offer. The streets are filled with old-style Flemish architecture and intersected by canals and charming river boats.
Head past the colorful 16th century houses towards Market Square (Grote Markt) for a view of the cathedral and Town Hall. There are several restaurants and cafes lining the street where you can grab a drink and soak it all in.
If your lucky enough to visit on a Saturday morning, you can experience the open market in this area. There are a lot of food stands (cheese, meat, seafood, produce, some prepared food) but also some other items for sale (basic clothing, shoes, linens).
After, take a stroll down the main shopping streets (Bruul and IJzerenleen), both radiate out from the Market Square. If you have time, take a boat cruise along the waterways of Mechelen. The 45 minute trip costs 6 EUR and the boats leave every hour on the half hour, from Haverwerf.
Mechelen appears to be calm and innocent, but if you visit during the end of August, you can experience a 2-day free festival featuring several stages of music and DJs. I unfortunately missed this opportunity (as I was here in September), but Mechelen is still pleasant to explore in it’s natural state.
What is your favorite day trip from Brussels?
Nice.
Hi Frank,
Thanks for commenting!