Mechelen (Dutch, pronounced ; Malines in
French, Mechlin in English) is a Dutch-speaking city and
municipality in the province of Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium. The
municipality comprises the city of
Mechelen proper, some quarters at its outskirts, the hamlets of
Nekkerspoel (adjacent) and Battel (a few kilometers away), as well
as the villages of Walem, Heffen, Leest, Hombeek, and Muizen.
The
Dijle flows through the city, hence the term 'Dijlestad'
(City by the Dijle).
Mechelen
lies on the major urban and industrial axis Brussels-Antwerp, about
25 km from each city. Inhabitants find employment at
Mechelen's southern industrial and northern office estates, as well
as at offices or industry near the capital, or at industrial plants
near Antwerp's seaport.
Mechelen is one of Flanders' Six Art Cities.
History
Mechelen: Grote Markt
(Large Market square), St. Rumbold's Cathedral
Archaeological proof of habitation during the
La Tène
era in the triangle Brussels-Leuven-Antwerp, mainly
concentrated around Mechelen which originated in wetlands, includes
an 8.4 metre long canoe cut from an oak tree trunk and a settlement
of about five wooden houses, at Nekkerspoel.
The area of Mechelen was settled on the banks of the river during
the
Gallo-Roman period as evidenced by
several
Roman ruins and roads. Upon
Rome's declining influence, during 3rd–4th centuries AD the area
became inhabited by
Germanic tribes,
a few centuries later
Christianized
assumedly by the Irish or Scottish missionary
St. Rumbold, (
Rombout in Dutch), who
would have also built a monastery.
Antwerp lost profitable
stapelrechten (rights as first
seller) for wool, oats and salt to Mechelen in 1303 when
John II,
Duke of Brabant, granted
City rights to the town. This started a
controversy between these cities that would last well into the 20th
century.
In the 15th century, the city came under the rule of the
Dukes of Burgundy, marking the beginning of
a prosperous period. In 1473
Charles the Bold moved several
political bodies to the city, and Mechelen served as the seat of
the Superior Court until the
French
Revolution.
The highly
lucrative cloth trade gained Mechelen wealth and power during the
Late Middle Ages and it even became
the capital of the Low Countries (very
roughly the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg) in the first half of the 16th century under
Margarete of Austria's
reign.
During the
16th century the city's political influence decreased dramatically,
due to many governmental institutions being moved to Brussels. The
city compensated for this by increased attention in the religious
arena: in 1559 it was proclaimed the
Archdiocese of Mechelen for Belgium
and not sharing this title with Brussels until 1961.
In 1572, during the
Eighty Years' War, the city was
burned and sacked by the Spanish.
After this pillaging, the city was rebuilt. It was during this time
that the tradition of furniture making, still seen today, began. In
1781,
Joseph II, Holy
Roman Emperor, ordered the destruction of the city's fortified
walls — their former location however continues to be referred to
in the Latin terms
intra muros (within the walls) and
extra muros (outside), and meanwhile the site became that
of the inner ring road.
The city entered the industrial age in the 19th century.
In 1835,
the first railway on the European continent
linked Brussels with
Mechelen, which became the hub of the Belgian railway
network. This led to a development of metalworking
industries, among others the central railway workshops which are
still located in the town today.
During World War II, the extensive
MechlinianFootnote: Mechelen is known in English as 'Mechlin' from
which the adjective 'Mechlinian' is derived. Though this name was
never entirely forgotten in English and may still be used mainly
for a traditional or historical reasons, the city's name had become
reintroduced in the English language by its French name 'Malines':
The Southern Netherlands had
been annexed by France by the end
of the eighteenth century (1795–1815), and French was the single
official language in early Belgium and remained dominant in Belgian
diplomacy during most of the twentieth century. As elsewhere in the
Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, though less than in cities like
Ghent and Antwerp, the Mechlinian bourgeoisie had largely adopted
French and French shop names are found on old postcards and
photographs of 'Malines'. While this trend was reversed (or shop
names in English appeared) and the Dutch
language gained full recognition in Belgium, the English
language gradually readopted the native name 'Mechelen' which
became again the usual name in English during the second half of
the twentieth century, this time spelled as in Dutch. In the third
official language of Belgium, German, the city is named 'Mecheln'. Its
names in French, in Spanish ('Malinas'), and in neo-Latin ('Machlinia' or 'Mechlinia') resemble an
early tenth century recording as 'Maslinas' in
Latin, predating the actual city,
while its vicinity was a detached possession of the bishopric of
Liège. Amongst the many other language and spelling
variants during its history, the city may have been referred to as
Malina, Maalinas, Machlines, Machlinia, Maclines, Maglinia,
Magliniensis, Malinensis, Malisnacensis, Maslinas, Mechlineensis,
Mechlinensis, Mechlinia, Mechliniensis, Mechlinium, Meclinia, and
Meglinia.
A 'Mechlinian' is an inhabitant of this city or someone seen as
born-and-raised there; the term is also the name of the city
dialect; as an adjective 'Mechlinian' may refer to the city or to
its dialect. railway structure had caused the Nazi occupation forces to choose Mechelen for its
infamous
transit camp.
Several famous meetings on the Christian religion are connected to
the name of the city. One in 1909 is thought to have inaugurated
the
Liturgical Movement.
Between
1921 and 1925 a series of unofficial conferences, known as the
Malines Conversations,Footnote: Mechelen is
known in English as 'Mechlin' from which the adjective 'Mechlinian'
is derived. Though this name was never entirely forgotten in
English and may still be used mainly for a traditional or
historical note, the city's name had become reintroduced in the
English language by its French name 'Malines': The Southern Netherlands had been annexed
by France by the end
of the eighteenth century (1795–1815), and French was the single
official language in early Belgium and remained dominant in Belgian
diplomacy during most of the twentieth century. As elsewhere in the
Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, though less than in cities like
Ghent and Antwerp, the Mechlinian bourgeoisie had largely adopted
French and French shop names are found on old postcards and
photographs of 'Malines'. While this trend was reversed (or shop
names in English appeared) and the Dutch
language gained full recognition in Belgium, the English
language gradually readopted the native name 'Mechelen' which
became again the usual name in English during the second half of
the twentieth century, this time spelled as in Dutch. In the third
official language of Belgium, German, the city is named 'Mecheln'. Its
names in French, in Spanish ('Malinas'), and in neo-Latin ('Machlinia' or 'Mechlinia') resemble an
early tenth century recording as 'Maslinas' in
Latin, predating the actual city,
while its vicinity was a detached belonging of the bishopric of
Liège. Amongst the many other language and spelling
variants during its history, the city may have been referred to as
Malina, Maalinas, Machlines, Machlinia, Maclines, Maglinia,
Magliniensis, Malinensis, Malisnacensis, Maslinas, Mechlineensis,
Mechlinensis, Mechlinia, Mechliniensis, Mechlinium, Meclinia, and
Meglinia.
A 'Mechlinian' is an inhabitant of this city or someone seen as
born-and-raised there; the term is also the name of the city
dialect; as an adjective 'Mechlinian' may refer to the city or to
its dialect. presided over by Cardinal
Mercier and attended by Anglican divines and laymen, including
Lord Halifax, was the most significant
of early attempts at the reconciliation between the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches.
Local fame
Folklore
Most cities in Flanders have a mock name for their inhabitants.
Since 1687, for their heroic attempt to fight the
fire
high up in the Saint-Rumbold's Tower, where the gothic windows had
shown the flaring of only the moon between clouds, Mechlinians have
been called
Maneblussers.
Once in 25 years, a
Parade, the
Ommegang, reminds of the arrival of
Emperor Maximilian of
Austria, father of
Archduchess Margaret of
Austria, and other major events of the city's past. The
Ommegang had an extra edition in 2000 for the 500th
anniversary of the birth of
Charles V.
This cortege shows
the city's six 15th–17th C Giants and other serious and humoresque
typical huge puppets and carts, and is UNESCO Masterpiece
of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity since
2005.
The city's 17th century wooden mascot is since 1775 called
Opsinjoorke, the doll - later its replica - gets tolled about on a
sheet as part of the Ommegang. Its recent bronze statue stands in
front of the Belfry.
The
annual parade of carts decorated with flowers, comparable with
Blankenberge where Mechlinian florists still prepare up to half
of those, and - original and appropriate for the area - with
vegetables, has been indefinitely cancelled since the beginning of
the 21st century for lack of financing by the City.
In spring, a legendary holy statue of Our Lady is the main feature
in the Procession of Hanswijk.
Dialect
Informally, many Mechlinians (in Dutch Mechelaars and locally
pronounced Mecheleirs, people from this city) daily speak
Mechlinian (in Dutch as well as locally Mechels), a
dialect by Dutch-speakers of Belgium pin-pointingly distincted from
other Brabantic dialects by three
different vowels of Dutch (as in zout or rauw, in
kei or bijl, in nu) being typically
pronounced as a same vowel — close to the one in English 'raw'
which does not appear in other dialects of the Flemish
Region or in standard
Dutch. Since 1995 a subscribers' quarterly,
'De
Mecheleir', shows old photographs of Mechelen and has stories
on the local history as well as a few columns written mimicking the
dialect, for which no spelling is generally determined.
Specialties
The brewery Het Anker, home of the Gouden Carolus beer
Historically famous Mechlinian trades: laken (woollen cloth),
tapestries,
cordwain,
Mechlin lace (precious
bobbin lace, already from the early 18th
century),
wood carving and
sculpturing, furniture.
The area around Mechelen is famous for the cultivation of
vegetables, among which
Belgian
endive (
witloof),
asparagus
and
cauliflower.
Founded in the city,
the Mechelse Veilingen in neighbouring Sint-Katelijne-Waver is the largest co-operative vegetable auction in Europe.
One of the four breeds of the Belgian Sheepdog is the local
Malinois. The
Mechelse koekoek is a local
poultry breed, fleshy
chickens with black and white feathers which extend
on the bird's legs, with colours reminiscent of a
cuckoo, hence the name.
Mechelsen Bruynen was allegedly the emperor
Charles V's favourite beer. A
version is still brewed in the city at Het Anker brewery.
Sports
Home of two of the oldest Belgian
football clubs, founded in 1904:
K.R.C. Mechelen and
K.V. Mechelen.
The latter contributed to the international glamour of the city by
winning the
UEFA Cup Winners'
Cup and the
European Super
Cup in 1988. The number of lesser local teams shows this
sport's popularity: Rapid Leest, Sporting Mechelen, Leest Utd., VV
Leest, Walem, SK.Heffen, Zennester Hombeek, FC Muizen. In
1985, the city
hosted the
Flatwater Canoe Racing
World Championships.
Places of interest
St. Rumbold's Cathedral
t Groen Waterke
- The
Sint-Romboutskathedraal with its dominating tower (UNESCO World Heritage
ID 943-016);
the Sint-Janskerk (Church of St. John the Evangelist) exhibits 'The
Adoration of the Magi' and the Kerk van
Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-over-de-Dijle (Church of Our Lady across the river
Dijle) 'The Miraculous Draught of Fishes', paintings by Rubens; the domed baroque Basiliek van Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-van-Hanswijk
(Basilica of Our Lady of Hanswyck) by
native architect Lucas Faydherbe, of
whom some sculptures can also be found in the cathedral - he was a
pupil and leading assistant of Rubens; the baroque Begijnhofkerk
(Church of the Beguines, dedicated to St. Alexis and St.
Catherine); the former Jesuit church Sint-Pieter en Pauluskerk
(Saints Peter and Paul).
- The
Brusselpoort, last remaining of the city's twelve gates, 13th
century; the Schepenhuis, oldest stone-built city hall in Flanders,
historical seat of the 'Grote Raad' (Great Council or Supreme
Court), 13th century; the gothic-renaissance Hof van Busleyden where Jeroen alias Hiëronymus van Busleyden
received Erasmus, Thomas More, and the later Pope Adrian VI. These three recently
restored buildings together now house the City Museum.
- The Palace of Margaret of York
when widowed of Charles the
Bold, now the City Theatre; the oldest renaissance building
north of the Alps, Palace of archduchess Margarete of Austria while as regent of
the Netherlands still raising the later Charles Quint, then for
centuries the Supreme though now a lower Court of Justice; in one
of these palaces, Anne Boleyn was
educated for some time as well; the Palace of the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic province Belgium, still in
use for its original purpose by Cardinal Danneels. These palaces may not
be open to the public in general but do offer a good external
view.
- The
Lakenhal (hall for merchants of woollen cloth) and the 14th century
Belfry (UNESCO World Heritage
ID 943-015)
beside it, form now the City Hall at the Grand Market
square.
- The
Klein Begijnhof and the Groot Begijnhof (UNESCO World Heritage
ID 855-003)
(Small and Large Béguinages)
- The Jewish Museum of Deportation and the Resistance (see under
External links)
- Technopolis, center for
hands-on Science and Technology.
- The Toy Museum at Nekkerspoel (see under External links)
- The animal park Planckendael in Muizen (see under External
links)
- The Kruidtuin or "Botanique" inner city park with marble statue
of the world famous 16th century herbalist
Rembert Dodoens alias Dodonæus; the
foresty Vrijbroek recreational park with around June its
outstanding Rose Gardens and in summer its Dahlia Garden; the
Tivoli Park with Children's Farm
- Places less accessible or outstanding, or contrarily of a more
particular interest:
- *The Refuge of Sint-Truiden and the Refuge of Tongerlo, retreat
mansions for distant abbeys, the latter now housing the
Manufacturer De Wit which restores the finest tapestries, for which Flanders was famous in the
16th century.
- *'t Groen Waterke, a picturesque small remnant of
bygone canal — in particular
of the Melaan, of which a longer stretch was after more than a
century uncovered in 2007.
- *A stone pillar De Mijlpaal, now prominent in front of
the station, had marked the nearby destination point of the first
passenger train ride on the continent. The name was adopted by the
railway workers' club for miniature model trains, and by a small
museum housed in one of the oldest railroad buildings commemorates
the historical event and consequent local industry of national
importance.
- *The Clock Museum, also known as the Watchmakers' Museum
- *The Royal Carillon School
"Jef Denyn" where carillonneurs come from around the world to
study the carillon and playing of the
instrument. In fine rococo house 'The ship'.
- *The Theravada Buddhist place of worship Wat Dhammaprateep
(Temple of the Flame of Truth or Reality as taught by the
Enlightened One) has since 2005 on its grounds an in China
beautifully sculptured Buddha seated on a soccle, both in dark
green marble - the tallest Buddha statue in Europe.
- *There are over 300 protected monuments in Mechelen.
- Many interesting facades along an easy
walk from AB-straat by Katelijnestraat towards the Grote Markt,
just behind the Schepenhuis turn right along IJzerenleen and before
the Grootbrug (bridge) again right to the Vismarkt, always maintain
left along a few curves and across the Kraanbrug (bridge) on the
Haverwerf, pass the renewed complex of the former Lamot brewery;
from the Grootbrug have a look on the river but stay on this bank:
turn right onto the Zoutwerf till De Zalm (The Salmon), originally
House of the Fishermans' Guild, tread back and
turn left to the Korenmarkt where minor traces of an early cloth
hall remain: a 12th-13th century wall and ditch held Mechelen on
this side of the river.
Famous inhabitants
See also:
Notable people
from Mechelen
- Margaret of York, Duchess of
Burgundy (1446–1503) Note: several children who later became queens
of European countries had received an education at her court.
- John Heywood,
English poet (1497–c 1575)
- Margarete of
Austria, regent of the Netherlands, daughter of Maximilian I and guardian
of Charles V
(1480–1530)
- Charles V, Holy Roman
Emperor, brought up in Mechelen until age 17 (1500–1558)
- Anne Boleyn, future wife of English
King Henry VIII (1504–1536)
- Rembert Dodoens, botanist,
herbalist, and physician (1517–1585)
- Philippe de Monte, Renaissance composer (1521–1603)
- François René
Mallarmé, French politician
in exile (1755–1835)
Twin cities
See also
External links
Books
- ISBN 90-5837-089-5, Michelin's "De Grote Gids België"
References
- A brochure published (10 April 2008) by the Flemish
Department of Foreign Affairs affirms: "In terms of international
tourism, the emphasis lies on six magnificent historic and
geographically concentrated cities of art : Brussel, Antwerpen,
Brugge, Gent, Leuven and Mechelen".
- ,,Bloemencorso moet terugkomen" Afgevoerde
Mechelse bloementraditie leeft voort in Blankenberge
journal Het Nieuwsblad, August 26, 2005
- De Mecheleir vzw Mechelen 2000+, subscribers'
quarterly published by J. Somers, Mechelen
- Mechelse Veilingen website — navigate 'The Company' or
read here
- Railway industrial archeology museum De
Mijlpaal
- The birth date of Anne Boleyn is uncertain. From the spring of
1513 to the autumn of 1514, as daughter of a high ranked diplomat
she lived either in Margarete's palace, as the later
Charles Quint, if she would
have been nearly his age; or just across the street in
Margaret
of York's palace if significantly younger. Margarete of Austria
affectionately referred to Anne as "la Petite Boleyn" during a
formative stage in her upbringing at the court.