Car & Van Hire - Mechelen

Mechelen has a rich cultural calendar with religious festivities, theatrical performances and more. The Carillon Festival in April is one of the most unique. It's an annual festival that celebrates the carillon, a rare bell percussion instrument that symbolises the city. The Flanders Festival is another local speciality during the April/May period that's dedicated to Flemish traditions with local artisans and performances.

Mechelen is a sporty city with two professional Belgian football clubs that are over 100 years old and a handful of amateur teams, too. K. R. C. Mechelen is based in Oscar Vankesbeeckstadion and plays in the Belgian Division 3. K. V. Mechelen plays at AFAS-stadion Achter de Kazerne and competes in the Belgian First Division A. Other local sports of note include rugby, ice hockey and canoeing.

Mechelen is a picture-postcard city with a scenic centre packed with landmarks. These include the Brusselpoort, a medieval town gate, and Saint Rumbold's, a 13th-century cathedral with one of Belgium's tallest church towers. Discover impressive Flemish artworks at the Museum Hof van Busleyden or take unique narrated tours of paintings at Het Kunstuur Mechelen.

Mechelen is a foodie hotspot with a wide variety of restaurants spanning Italian classics to Flemish favourites. The city also has an impressive brewing heritage with beers like Het Anker founded here in the 15th century. The city's stand-out restaurant is the Michelin-awarded Tinèlle, known for its French pedigree. There are also plenty of cosy cafes, like Noen and Beans, for midday pick-me-ups.

Mechelen has a vibrant shopping scene with local boutiques, open markets and shopping malls. The city's main shopping street, de Bruul, offers a blend of international and Belgian fashion and home shops. More independent retailers can be found on Sint-Katelijnestraat. Weekly markets take place on Saturday with produce and stalls in the city centre.

Families travelling with kids will find much to do in and around Mechelen. The Speelgoedmuseum is located just outside the central ring road and hosts a wealth of historic toys. For scenic picnics and walks, Vrijbroekpark offers quiet lakes and rose gardens to wander through. On the outskirts of the city, you'll find Technopolis, a hands-on science museum that's great fun for children. There's also a large zoo, Planckendael, with enclosures spanning 5 continents. Discover the best of the region with a convenient car or van hire in Mechelen.

Mechelen is an easy city to navigate to and from, with a few restrictions within its centre. A ring road (R12) provides access to the E19 motorway and a network of national roads for convenient travel in the region.

Mechelen's principal motorway access is via the E19 (consisting of the A1). This route spans the length of Belgium from Antwerp and Mons, crossing into the Netherlands in the north and France in the south. Exits for Mechelen are most convenient via the B101/N1 (exit 9) or N16 (exit 10), which merge directly with Mechelen's ring road.

The very centre of the city does not allow motorised traffic from 11:00 to 18:00. As such, parking is recommended upon accessing Mechelen via the R12 to avoid entering restricted or otherwise narrow zones. Plenty of car parks are found in this vicinity with signposted walks into the centre. Alternatively, visitors can park at Douaneplein for a free shuttle bus into the centre.

Drivers should note that in Belgium, cars are driven on the right side of the road, and it is prohibited to overtake cyclists or moped riders with less than 1-m of distance. Some other quirks of Belgium include the widely-adopted habit of zip merging in slow-moving traffic caused by lane closures. Only merge into the other lane when it begins to close, and not before. It may seem counterintuitive, but if you wait a few seconds, you'll be let into the adjacent lane, and traffic will flow more smoothly.

Mechelen does well to limit cars in its centre, where cycling is promoted. As a result, congestion is more likely on exits along the ring road and national roads. Rush hour is typically from 7:30 to 9:00 and from 16:30 to 18:00. Try to avoid driving in and around the city and its ring road during these times.

The national average speed limit for built-up areas in Belgium is 50 km/h, while motorways allow speeds of up to 120 km/h. However, there are plenty of areas in Mechelen where speeds are as low as 20 km/h. Pedestrianised areas, especially around schools, have signposted speeds of 30 km/h, even when schools are shut. There are active cameras, both static and mobile, within the Mechelen area. If you're caught speeding in excess of 40 km/h, you can be fined an eye-watering amount on the spot. Visitors must abide by signposted limits at all times, and infractions are enthusiastically rewarded with charges.