Mechelen

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Mechelen (English traditionally Mechlin, French Malines, German Mecheln) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. 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 km² which gives a population density of 1,146.13 inhabitants per km².

Table of contents

1 History
2 Things to see in Mechelen:
3 External links

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 3th-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 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.

Things to see in Mechelen:

The St. Rombolds Cathedral
The Jewish Museum of Deportation and the Resistance
The animal park Planckendael in Muizen

External links

Official website - Only available in Dutch
Mechlin Lace
Jewish Museum of Deportation and the Resistance
Restauratie Integratie Mechelen a local heritage conservation organisation (Website in Dutch with English summary page)

Antwerp'''
Antwerp: \| Aartselaar \| Antwerp \| Boechout \| Boom \| Borsbeek \| Brasschaat \| Brecht \| Edegem \| Essen \| Hemiksem \| Hove \| Kalmthout \| Kapellen \| Kontich \| Lint \| Malle \| Mortsel \| Niel \| Ranst \| Rumst \| Schelle \| Schilde \| Schoten \| Stabroek \| Wijnegem \| Wommelgem \| Wuustwezel \| Zandhoven \| Zoersel \| Zwijndrecht \|
Mechelen: \| Berlaar \| Bonheiden \| Bornem \| Duffel \| Heist-op-den-Berg \| Lier \| Mechelen \| Nijlen \| Putte \| Puurs \| Sint-Amands \| Sint-Katelijne-Waver \| Willebroek
Turnhout: \| Arendonk \| Baarle-Hertog \| Balen \| Beerse \| Dessel \| Geel \| Grobbendonk \| Herentals \| Herenthout \| Herselt \| Hoogstraten \| Hulshout \| Kasterlee \| Laakdal \| Lille \| Meerhout \| Merksplas \| Mol \| Olen \| Oud-Turnhout \| Ravels \| Retie \| Rijkevorsel \| Turnhout \| Vorselaar \| Vosselaar \| Westerlo \|

Antwerp'''
Antwerp: \| Aartselaar \| Antwerp \| Boechout \| Boom \| Borsbeek \| Brasschaat \| Brecht \| Edegem \| Essen \| Hemiksem \| Hove \| Kalmthout \| Kapellen \| Kontich \| Lint \| Malle \| Mortsel \| Niel \| Ranst \| Rumst \| Schelle \| Schilde \| Schoten \| Stabroek \| Wijnegem \| Wommelgem \| Wuustwezel \| Zandhoven \| Zoersel \| Zwijndrecht \|
Mechelen: \| Berlaar \| Bonheiden \| Bornem \| Duffel \| Heist-op-den-Berg \| Lier \| Mechelen \| Nijlen \| Putte \| Puurs \| Sint-Amands \| Sint-Katelijne-Waver \| Willebroek
Turnhout: \| Arendonk \| Baarle-Hertog \| Balen \| Beerse \| Dessel \| Geel \| Grobbendonk \| Herentals \| Herenthout \| Herselt \| Hoogstraten \| Hulshout \| Kasterlee \| Laakdal \| Lille \| Meerhout \| Merksplas \| Mol \| Olen \| Oud-Turnhout \| Ravels \| Retie \| Rijkevorsel \| Turnhout \| Vorselaar \| Vosselaar \| Westerlo \|