BELGIUM - Via Brabantica (4) – Lier / Mechelen

On the third day of the camino Brabantica, I arrived at Mechelen, another important town. But first, let me show you the three-stores-high stamp I got in the tourism office. (picture 1)
Before I leave Lier (waypoint 1), I quickly walked through the Begijnhof - Béguinage, also classified UNESCO. (picture 2)
The walk till Mechelen starts along the Netekanaal. It’s a long walk and it’s quite boring because the landscape doesn’t change a lot. After a few kilometers I did a little alternative (waypoint 3) in a small reserve. You will soon pass the commune Duffel. (picture 3)
In the 15th century, they made heavy woollen fabric and it was called like the name of the commune. In Duffel, you can get a sello in the commune hall (waypoint 2) which is very close to the camino.
Don’t forget to walk on the bridge and change bank of the Nete. Nog big deal if you are still walking on the same side. You can walk over the Nete a few hundred meters further on the special pedestrian/bike lane on the railroad bridge. (picture 4)
Finally, a few kilometers after Duffel, the camino quits the canal and will go through a small wood. Till Mechelen, you will walk through Sint-Katelijne-Waver, you will pass the football stadium of KV Mechelen and in the center, you need to take left at the Varkensstraat.
Every Saturday (except on holidays), the secretary of het Compostela Genootschap, situated in Het Diocesaan Pastoraal Centrum at Varkensstraat 6 is open for everyone who likes information about the camino. (waypoint 4, picture 5). I asked for a sello and we shared our experiences.
If you still have some energy left, consider climbing on the St.-Romboutstoren (waypoint 5), again UNESCO classified. It’s 96m high and after using 538 stairs, there is a panorama deck where you can see the cathedral of Antwerp, the St.-Gommarus church of Lier and the Atomium of Brussels.
Waypoint 6 will lead you to the station of Mechelen.