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Mechelen has been severely damaged during both World Wars. However, a lot of historically important buildings have been restored. Some survived the wars. A stroll through the city will show that in almost every street are beautifully preserved or renovated private houses. Here we give some of the highlights of the city.

Some Houses of Mechelen.

The former Palace of Margaret of Austria

Erected as from 1507 by the architect  Rombout II Keldermans as a residence for Margaret of Austria, Regent of the Netherlands.

  Whereas the rearmost part is in traditional late-Gothic style, the gatehouse is one of the first  buildings in the Renaissance style of the Northern countries. It was designed by Guy de Beaugrant, a French architect from Savoie, France. He had been appointed as architect of the palace by Margaret of Austria herself. It was here that the later Emperor Charles V spent his youth at the court of his aunt Margaret. After the death of Margaret of Austria, the palace was the residence of Cardinal Granvelle, and from 1616 until 1795 it was used by the Great Council of the Netherlands. The palace has been used as Court of Law since 1796. 

The former house of the Town Council (Oud Schepenhuis). 

This remarkable building in early gothic style (13th and 14th century) is situated on the corner of the Market Square. From 1473 until 1614 it was used as the seat of the Parliament of Mechelen, the supreme court of law of the Netherlands.

Later the guilds held their meetings here. In the following centuries the building was used for different purposes: prison, museum and city archives. 

Hof van Busleyden (Court of Busleyden) 

Hiëronymus van Busleyden, a man of noble birth, saw the light of day in Arlon (now in the Belgian Province of Luxemburg) in 1470. After years of intensive study, he was awarded the academic degree of Doctor of Law at both the universities of Bologna and Louvain. Philip the fair praised him for his thorough juridical knowledge and inducted him as a counselor and a registrar of the Great Council of Mechelen. This explains why he decided to settle down in our town. He joined the diplomatic service of Charles the Fifth who charged him with several missions abroad. Returning from a  mission, he died in Bordeaux (France) in 1517, thus making the last journey... His residence dates from 1503-1508. Its historical dimension and remarkable architecture make it one of the most attractive buildings in late Gothic style in the town center. After Hiëronymus' decease, his court's functionality changed many times. From 1610 up to and including the first World War, it was a pawn house called "Mountain of Charity". From 1938 to the present day, it has been housing the City Museum of Mechelen.

Archbishop's Palace

The archbishop, Primate (most senior person) of the Belgian Catholic Church is in residence in the stately white palace erected in 1717. Further along the street you will meet the 'Groen Waterke' a relic of the many watercourses, called 'vlietjes', that once ran through the city. You can see the refugee house of Sint-Truiden to the right of the 'Groen Waterke'.

Town House 'De Beyaert'

'De Beyaert', originally a hostel for pilgrims, was the 15th century town hall.This house stands on the side of the Cathedral. There are two parts : the small 'Beyaert' and the large 'Beyaert'. The first (small) part dates from the 12th century but was enlarged in the 14th century. One can still see the original part in the short, traditional wing on the side of the cathedral. In the 15th and 16th centuries a new part was added, called 'the large Beyaert'. It was renovated again in 1907-1908. It was used as the town hall of Mechelen from 1474 until 1914. It now houses the Post Office of Mechelen.

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