Het Predikheren

If you come to Mechelen, a visit to the most beautiful library in the country is a must. The Predikheren is a dynamic cultural hotspot of Mechelen and is located in the buildings of a former monastery.

It is a baroque monastery with a church, built between 1650 and 1735, with a turbulent history. The Mechelen Predikheren were expelled from their monastery in 1796 by the French occupier. The complex, seized by the government, was then allocated various military purposes, such as a barracks, an arms depot, and a military hospital.

For 35 years, the beautiful monastery stood neglected until the City of Mechelen decided in 2010 to house the city library there. The monastery was fully restored between 2011 and 2019. Incidentally, the restoration of the adjoining church is still ongoing and will be completed in 2024. The Predikheren, like the Ouwen Dok, is a protected monument and won the real estate heritage award and the public prize in 2020. The Predikheren also houses lunch bar Barbib and star restaurant Tinelle.