Mechelen

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Mechelen ( Malines German, French Malines ) is a city in the province of Antwerp in Belgium with 82 325 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2012). Mechelen is the seat of the Primate of Belgium, Archbishop André- Joseph Léonard.

Description

The inner city of less than 1 km in diameter, a nearly circular shape, wide, regular streets and handsome public spaces, including the Grote Markt (Great Market Square ), the Veemarkt ( cattle market ) and the Schoenmarkt ( Schuster market ) with the monument of Margaret of Austria.

History

Mechelen fell in the division of the Frankish empire between Charles the Bald and Louis the German of Lotharingia, but was given the Simple Count Palatine Wigerich 911-915 of Karl. The city as a part of the glory of Mechelen in 1336 came by purchase to the Dukes of Brabant and in 1383 by marriage to Philip the Bold of Burgundy. 1477, the city came by marriage of Mary of Burgundy, daughter and heiress of Charles the Bold, with Maximilian I of the Habsburg dynasty. 1490 Mechelen was built by Emperor Friedrich III. raised to a Noble County and formed as such the 17 Dutch provinces. In 1559 the city became the seat of an archbishop. Under the regent Margaret of Austria Mechelen was temporarily capital of the Netherlands. After the fall of the Seven United Provinces, the city came to Brabant again and was designated as the seat of the Great Council of Mechelen, the highest Court of the entire Habsburg Netherlands. 1572 taught Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alba here at one of its most cruel slaughter.

On 5 May 1835, the first steam-powered railway line was opened on the European continent between Brussels and Mechelen.

During the Second World War was in the city, the SS Mechelen transit camp from which were deported more than 25,000 Jews by the Germans to Auschwitz. In the premises of the former SS collection Mechelen camp now houses a memorial.

Economy

In Mechelen there are metal processing, precision engineering and chemical industry as well as machinery and transformers. Also for its breweries, the city is known. Also, here establishments are located, for the manufacture of jewelry, as well as establishments manufacturing continues to be the traditional Mechlin bobbin lace.

Transport links

Located in a fertile plain at the Dyle and at a leading Leuven to Antwerp channel, the railway junction Mechelen is with Antwerp, Leuven, Lier, Brussels, Dendermonde, Ghent and Terneuzen by railway lines in conjunction. Furthermore, here there are a repair shop and the former marshalling yard Muizen, which is still continued to be used after conversion as freight station. The city, located on the street 19 (Antwerp- Paris) and is roughly equidistant from Brussels ( 30 km south ) and Antwerp (25 km north) away.

Attractions

Noteworthy is the density of more than 300 listed buildings, including eight churches, to less than three square kilometers.

  • Of St. Romuald The Gothic Cathedral (Sint - Rombouts Kathedraal ) from the 13th - 15th Century with a 98 m high, but unfinished tower, since 1999 a UNESCO World Heritage " belfries in Belgium and France" heard as Belfry and two carillons houses, as well as valuable paintings ( altarpiece by van Dyck ).
  • Also, the belfry of the Cloth Hall (1340 ), now part of the Town Hall, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage listed.
  • The Town Hall (→ Lage51.027924.481391 )
  • The townhouse, which is also called " De Beyaert " ( 15th century; → Lage51.0282884.479763 )
  • The Big and the Small Begijnhof - both belong since 1998 a UNESCO World Heritage of the Flemish Beguine.
  • The Church of Our Lady (→ Lage51.0230154.478815 ) from the 16th century, with Rubens ' famous catch.
  • The St. John's Church (→ Lage51.0304274.481053 ) contains some valuable paintings by Peter Paul Rubens.
  • The Palace of Margaret of Austria, today Court (→ Lage51.0285894.486254 )
  • The Hof van Busleyden (→ Lage51.0311614.482494 ) and the court of Savoy ( early 16th century)
  • The road IJzerenleen with many historic buildings, including the Oud Schepenhuis (→ Lage51.0273914.479163 )
  • The Archbishop's Palace (→ Lage51.030084.478744 )
  • The Munizipalkollegium (formerly German religious house )
  • " Kazerne Dossin - Memorial, Museum and Documentation Centre on Holocaust and Human Rights " at the site of the former SS - assembly camp Mechelen
  • The Armoury
  • Television and Water Tower Mechelen

Twin Cities

Sons and daughters of the town

  • Ludwig van Beethoven (1712-1773), the grandfather of the composer Ludwig van Beethoven
  • John Varennius (1462-1536), teacher at the Collegium Trilingue wrote: SYNTAXIS LINGVUAE Graecae ... Coloniae Martinus Gymnicus excudebat ANNO MDL
  • Jan van Wavere († 1521/1522 ), brabantischer barrel painter
  • Francis II of taxis (around 1514-1543 ), Postmaster General of the 16th century
  • Philippe de Monte (1521-1603), composer of the 16th century
  • Hans Ruckers ( 1533/55-1598 ), founder of the family dynasty of the Ruckers ( best known Flemish harpsichord maker from Antwerp in the 16th and 17th century )
  • Frans Hogenberg (1535-1590), engraver and etcher
  • Anton van Obberghen (1543-1611), builder of Antwerp, Helsingør and Danzig
  • Philips van der Aa ( † after 1586), oranischer lawyer and statesman
  • Abraham van den Kerckhoven (around 1618-1702 ), composer and organist
  • Rombout Verhulst (1624-1698), Flemish sculptor of the 17th century
  • Onghers Oswald (1628-1706), Baroque painters of the 17th and 18th century
  • Jacob van der Auwera (1672-1760) court sculptor in Würzburg
  • Jean François Michel (1697-1772), lawyer and businessman
  • Pierre- Joseph van Beneden (1809-1894), parasitologist and paleontologist
  • Egide Walschaerts (1820-1901), mechanical engineer
  • Rik Wouters (1882-1916), sculptor, painter
  • Gerard Bosch van Drakenstein (1887-1972), Dutch track cyclists
  • Jean Baptiste Janssens (1889-1964), 27th General of the Society of Jesus
  • Staf Nees (1901-1965), composer and carillon player
  • Henry Bauchau (1913-2012), psychotherapist and writer
  • Peter Cabus (1923-2000), Flemish composer
  • January Segers ( born 1929 ), composer, conductor, musician and editor
  • Vic Nees ( b. 1936 ), composer of choral works, program director for choral music Flemish Radio
  • Fernand Goyvaerts (1938-2004), football player
  • Julien Stevens ( born 1943 ), cyclist
  • Georges Leekens ( b. 1949 ), football player and coach
  • Chris Joris ( born 1952 ), jazz musician
  • Carry Goossens ( born 1953 ), actor and comedian
  • January Verlinden ( born 1977 ), football player
  • Hans Somers (born 1978 ), football player
  • Steven Defour (* 1988), football player
Arrondissement of Mechelen St. Rumbold's Cathedral Lordship of Mechelen Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor Dijle Junction (rail) Lier, Belgium Ausbesserungswerk Gothic art Anthony van Dyck Béguinage Anthonis van Obbergen Gdańsk Pierre-Joseph van Beneden Gerard Bosch van Drakestein County of Flanders County of Namur County of Hainaut County of Holland Breda County of Horne IJsselstein Zutphen County Aartselaar Arendonk Baarle-Hertog Balen Beerse Berlaar Boechout Bonheiden Boom, Belgium Bornem Borsbeek Brasschaat Brecht, Belgium Dessel Duffel Edegem Essen, Belgium Geel Grobbendonk Heist-op-den-Berg Hemiksem Herentals Herenthout Herselt Hoogstraten Hove, Belgium Hulshout Kalmthout Kapellen, Belgium Kasterlee Kontich Laakdal Lille, Belgium Lint, Belgium Malle Meerhout Merksplas Mol, Belgium Mortsel Niel, Belgium Nijlen Olen, Belgium Oud-Turnhout Putte Ranst Ravels Retie Rijkevorsel Rumst Schelle Schilde Schoten Sint-Amands Sint-Katelijne-Waver Stabroek Turnhout Vorselaar Vosselaar Westerlo Wijnegem Willebroek Wommelgem Wuustwezel Zandhoven Zoersel Zwijndrecht, Belgium
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