The Little Devils

Located by the River Dijle, near to the Vismarkt, are three quaint 15th and 16th century houses which have been beautifully restored. Het Paradijske (Little Paradise) takes its name from the Garden of Eden reliefs which are above its windows, De Duiveltjes (Little Devils) is adorned with carved demons, and lastly Sint-Jozef is an impressive example of a Baroque merchant’s house. Although they are not open to visitors, they are worth visiting to take in their delightful exteriors.

Palais van Margaretha van Oostenrijk

The Palace was built in 1507 for Margaret of Austria, the Regent of the Netherlands. Since 1796 it has served as Mechelen’s Law Courts.

Museum Hof van Busleyden

The City of Mechelen Museum is housed within a 16th century brick mansion, once the home of Hiëronymous van Busleyden, a prominent member of Margaret of Austria’s court. Within is a display of sculptures, paintings and furniture and the famous gold leather salon, the "Goudleerkamer" with examples of the finest gold leather ever produced in Mechelen. You can also see the original "Op-Signoorke", a 17th-century wooden sculpture that has been Mechelen's mascot for over three hundred years.

Kerk van Onze Lieve Vrouw over de Dijle

The Church of Our Lady across the River Dijle, is a large turreted affair dating from the 15th century which was restored after it took a direct hit from a World War II rocket. The main highlight is Ruben’s ‘Miraculous Draught of Fishes’, painted for the Fishmongers’ Guild in 1618.

St Janskerk

This church does not appear appealing on the outside but its interior is well worth exploring. Everything is on a very grand scale, richly decorated and highly maintained with a massive pulpit and organ and two large, unusual canons’ pews. The highlight though is the altarpiece which contains Ruben’s ‘Adoration of the Magi’, painted in 1619.

Oud Schepenhuis

Located on the corner of Grote Markt, this gothic building was used as the seat of the Parliament of Mechelen, the supreme court of law of the Netherlands from 1473 until 1614. Later the guilds held their meetings here and in the years after, it was used as a prison. Nowadays the museum houses items of 15th and 16th century art and history.

The Domus Brewery Pub

This small brewery produces 800 litres of beer a year and two of its three beers, Nostra Domus and Con Domus, are pumped directly to the Domus Pub next to the brewery by a small pipeline. In winter the brewery also produces its best selling, dark Christmas beer, Nen Engel. Group tours of the brewery are available by appointment. www.domusleuven.be

Arenberg Castle

Once the home of the de Croy family and dating back to the 14th century, this magnificent castle is now home to the Applied Sciences faculty of the University. Set amongst a beautiful park it has still retained its original grandeur.

Brusselpoort

The only surviving 14th century gate out of the original twelve that once surrounded Mechelen.

Planckendael

A large animal park spread over 100 acres where more than 1000 animals live in a habitat as close to their natural one as possible. Particular highlights include the chimpanzee island, the tropical bird aviaries, the koala bears and the African village. To get there, you can take a half-hourly boat along the Leuven-Dijle canal from Hanswijkvaart, by the main railway station. www.planckendael.be

The De Mijlpaal Railway Museum (The Milestone Railway Museum)

Exhibitions will take you back to the time of the pioneers in the 19th century when the first European railwayline linked Mechelen and Brussels.