8x Mechelen with children

1. Climb St Rumbold’s Tower

Niels: ‘St Rumbold’s Tower in Mechelen is world famous. 538 steps come between you and the roof of the city. There’s no elevator, but luckily there are plenty of rooms on the way up for you to catch your breath.’

‘On the way to the top, you’ll come across two carillons. And if you’re lucky, you might even get a free concert. Once at the top, you can enjoy a beautiful view of Mechelen. In clear weather, you can even spot the Atomium in Brussels or Antwerp Cathedral!’

‘When we’re back at the foot of St Rumbold’s Tower, I treat the kids to a drink at lunch bar Foom. It’s a cosy place that the children love going to.’ 

2. Criss-cross the Beguinage or walk on the water

Niels: ‘Mechelen is nice and compact. That makes it an ideal city to explore with children. Sid’s favourite activity? Walking on the Dyle towpath, because then he can literally walk on water.’

‘We’re also fans of the Large and Small Beguinage. It’s like walking in a maze with a surprising little street around every corner. When I come here as a resident, I feel like I’m on holiday. It’s so beautiful and soothing here.’

3. Spotting animals in ZOO ⁠Planckendael

Niels: ‘When the weather’s good, we jump on the bikes and go to ZOO Planckendael. This park is divided into continents and, in addition to exotic animals, there’s also a climbing trail and various playgrounds. Asia and Africa are our favourite areas in Planckendael ZOO, but if you want to visit the entire park, it’s best to plan a full day. You can spend hours here having fun!’

4. Playing in the Botanical Gardens

Niels: ‘A visit to the centre of Mechelen is not complete for Sid, Marthe and Hannah unless we visit the Botanical Gardens. In that city park you will find a great playground. And it’s big! Other parents and children clearly love coming here too. By the way, around the corner you’ll find the Mimi coffee bar with tasty drinks and pastries. A win-win for the whole family!’ 

5. By boat through Mechelen

Niels: ‘A boat trip on the Dyle is a classic. We always recommend friends and family to explore Mechelen from the water. You have a beautiful view of the historic facades and you regularly meet canoeists and paddle boarders. Activities on and around the water make it so inviting!’

6. A surprising museum visit

Niels: ‘What do you mean, museums are no fun for children? I really recommend the family trail at Museum Hof van Busleyden. In the Burgundian period, Mechelen was an important city. Thanks to various golden cubes in the museum halls, the youngest kids can learn more about the history of the city in a playful way.’

7. The Toy Museum

Niels: ‘As a child, I visited the Toy Museum with my parents. Since then, the museum has moved to a new location. You’ll find toys from all different periods here, although it’s best to let your children (and you too!) try out all that fun for themselves. Make sure you allow enough time, because you won’t find it easy to get your children back home with you.’

8. Experiment in Technopolis

Niels: ‘For 25 years, Technopolis has been introducing children to science and technology. You can easily spend a whole day in this activity centre because there’s so much to do here. From scientific experiments and testing out interactive installations: your children learn a lot while playing.’ 

Child-friendly restaurants

In Mechelen there are many restaurants and cafés where they will welcome you with a smile. These are the personal favourites of Niels, Sid, Marthe and Hannah:

• De Vleeshalle: a cosy culinary hotspot with something for everyone. You will also find a playground for children here.
• Kafee Kadee: a place to chill, specially made for (grand)parents and children. Here, too, you’ll find a fun play corner.   
• Bokes & Co: breakfast and lunch place with toys for the little ones.
• Bavet: is there anything better than unashamedly slurping spaghetti?
• De Trommelhoeve: the best ice creams in Mechelen, straight from the farm.

Shopping with your kids

Looking for a gift? Or do you just like shopping? Then you should definitely visit these children’s shops:

• Studio Tosti: a warm inviting bookstore for the youngest.
• De Kopvoeter: the place for beautiful and hard-wearing children’s shoes.
• Goldfish: a large selection of trendy clothing for children.
• Zoet: it’s okay to eat sweets once in a while, right?
• Pardoes: a true book paradise at Nekkerspoel train station.