Technopolis

Mechelen’s latest attraction is an interactive science centre with a range of hands-on science and technology displays, which will help old and young alike better understand how things work. Experience such things as landing an aircraft, cycling on a high wire bike 5 metres above the ground, launching your own hot-air balloon or rocket, standing in a life-sized soap bubble, printing your own front page and much more. www.technopolis.be

The Speelgoedmuseum (The Toy Museum)

Home to a huge collection over three floors of toys and interactive games, both antique and new, which will bring back memories for young and old.

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 railway line linked Mechelen and Brussels.