MECHELEN - BELGIUM |
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Mechelen (English traditionally Mechlin, French
Malines, German Mecheln) is a municipality located in the
Flemish province of Antwerp, in Belgium. The municipality
comprises the city of Mechelen proper and the villages of Heffen,
Hombeek, Leest, Muizen and Walem. On January 1st, 2000 Mechelen
had a total population of 75,438 (36,787 males and 38,651
females). The total area is 65.82 km˛ which gives a population
density of 1,146.13 inhabitants per km˛. |
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History
The area of Mechelen was first settled on the banks of the river Dijle
during the Gallo-Roman period as evidenced by several Roman ruins and roads.
The settlement declined during the 3rd-4th century and the area became
inhabited by pagan Germanic tribes, who were converted to Christianity by
the Irish missionary St Rombold, (Rombout in Dutch), who also built a
monastery.
The highly lucrative cloth trade gained Mechelen wealth and power during the
late middle-ages and it even became the capital of the Netherlands in the
first half of the 16th century under Margaret of Austria's reign.
The city entered the industrial age in the 19th century, becoming the hub of
the Belgian railway network, with the first train linking Brussels with
Mechelen in 1835.
The city is famous for the Mechlin lace.
Mechelen is home of two of the oldest Belgian football clubs: Racing
Mechelen and K.V. Mechelen, both founded in 1904 and now playing in
Belgium's third division.
Places of interest
The St. Rombolds Cathedral
The Jewish Museum of Deportation and the Resistance
The animal park Planckendael in Muizen. |
