Photographer's Note
THis is a shot from one of our more adventurous bike trips during the first corona wave, especially considering that old rusty bike I ride.
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MECHELEN is a historical city some 25 kilometers south of Antwerp, which is more or less halfway between Antwerp and Brussels.
Mechelen is where Charles V spent his childhood. It is one of Flanders' prominent cities of historical art. It was a centre for artistic production during the Northern Renaissance (mostly 16th century), when painters, printmakers, illuminators and composers of polyphony were attracted by patrons such as Margaret of York, Margaret of Austria and Hieronymus van Busleyden.
Holding the Archbishop's seat and the Archdiocese Mechelen has always been a Roman-Catholic stronghold in the Lower Netherlands.
When I grew Mechelen didn't have a good reputation, it was kind of boring and half abandonned. Under mayor Bart Somers (since 200) Mechelen has become a really vibrant city again. It has become quite a popular place for young couples to go and live, not only because of its location and many train connections, also because it just is a great place to live.
Besides that Mechelen is also known for its football teams KV Mechelen and Racing Mechelen. The former, a catholic team, won the European Cup Winners Cup in 1988 and currently plays in the top league of Belgium. The latter has socialist roots and has currently fallen on hard times, plying in lower leagues.
It also a great place for beers.
Critiques | Translate
PaulVDV
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5688 W: 17 N: 13754]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-s-g.gif){kind=small}
(54925) 2020-11-27 0:39
Hallo Benny,
Ik herinner me nog dat KV Mechelen Ajax klopte.
Maar niet dat de stad ooit een slechte reputatie had ... Het is wel zo dat in de loop der jaren verschillende jongere collega's van mij (in Brussel) verhuisden naar Mechelen.
Prachtige architectuurfoto van de Grote Markt.
In de maand mei was dit plein inderdaad heel leeg.
Vele groeten, Paul
Silvio1953
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 18027 W: 130 N: 37984]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif){kind=small}
(205862) 2020-11-27 3:25
Ciao Benny, great view of fantastic buildings, beautiful clarity, splendid light, fine details and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio
Royaldevon
(75546) 2020-11-27 4:26
Hello Benny,
Fine, sharp details of these very beautiful, historic buildings. The styles are so very different and yet, they are standing side-by-side in an almost cosmopolitan way!
It looks like a great place to visit visually and ... has good beer!
My warm regards,
Bev :-)
jhm
(203103) 2020-11-27 6:08
Goedemiddag Benny,
Het is lang geleden dat ik nog in Mechelen centrum ben geweest, tegenwoordig met dat vervuilingsgedoe, maar ik heb intussen een milieu vriendelijk auto gekocht.
Deze foto is heel mooi genomen
Heerlijk architecturaal met deze oude maar mooie gebouwen.
Zeer goed foto werk, bedankt.
Groeten uit Oost-Vlaanderen,
John
abmdsudi
(88617) 2020-11-27 8:01
Hi Benny
The architecture is a joy to view and terrific detail as always in this very appealing image. My pleasure to view
Best regards
ifege
(32389) 2020-11-27 19:38
Hi Benny
Rusty old bike but great old Belgian architecture. Well taken. Is Belgium in lockdown again?
cheers
Ian
emka
(152344) 2020-11-27 23:52
Hello Benny, I didn't know about the bad reputation of Mechelen. I liked Mechelen very much. I remember well the main square with this beautiful Town Hall. And I remember well 5348 steps to the tower. Have you climbed it? It is not popular on TE, my photos from 2016 are neighbouring this one. Hm. I was close to Antwerp but I had not enough time to visit your city. What a pity.
Have a nice weekend
Malgo
walterantonio
![Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 40 W: 0 N: 716]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/s-n-g.gif){kind=small}
(2206) 2020-11-28 4:37
Hi Benny,
Beautiful photo of this incredible square. You managed to get a great day of sunshine and good light. The architecture of the old buildings shown here is very beautiful. The natural light managed to show in even more detail the perfection of the architecture of the buildings.
Greetings from Brazil
mkamionka
(61330) 2021-01-11 3:29
Hi Benny,
I heard that sales of bikes was on rise during lockdown. I still don't own one...
Great architecture and you had an amazing light over there. The sky so perfectly blue and the buildings stand out of it nicely.
Excellent quality work!!
M
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Benny Verbercht (BennyV)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2905 W: 35 N: 6199]](//i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(32570) - Genre: Τοποθεσίες
- Medium: Έγχρωμο
- Date Taken: 2020-05-21
- Camera: Nikon D3200, Tamron AF18-200mm 3,5-6,3 XR Di II E 6
- Έκδοση φωτογραφίας: Πρωτότυπη έκδοση
- Date Submitted: 2020-11-27 0:19
