the heart of the city, a photo from Antwerpen, Flanders

Photographer's Note

MECHELEN is a historical city in the heart of the old Brabant, halfway between Antwerp and Brussels. WIth a forward thinking council of liberals and greens, the city has become quite a popular place to live (with house prices now rising steeply) and visit. The city has a rich history and a lively scene of pubs and bars, serving excellent local beers. Yes, those are two good reasons for me to visit this city.

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The "IJzerenleen" is one of the main streets in the city center. It is located just around a corner from the Grand Place. In the old days it used to be an open waterway, hence its width. In fact, this was a fish market until around 1530.

The strange name refers to the old iron handrails that used to be there to prevent people from falling into the water, especially when going home late at night after a visit to a pub.

The striking medieval building on the right is the "Schepenhuis", i.e. where the "schepenen" (the aldermen) used to meet. Most of it dates from the 13th and 14th century. In the 15th century it briefly functioned as the Mechelen Parliament and the High Court of the Burgundy Netherlands.

Since July 2020 cars have been banned here. The Ijzerenleen is now a lively part of the large pedestrian zone that is the city center. A bold but very effective decision by the city council, as it has made the city center a lot more lively and enjoyable.

One of my favourite places in Mechelen to go and have a cup of coffee. Plenty of outdoor seating available!

jean113, COSTANTINO, jemaflor, Fis2 ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

holmertz (102700) 2022-02-16 9:30

Hello Benny,
It's a nice view of fine buildings and a square with a lively atmosphere. The photo is very sharp and the light is pleasantly warm. The nearest decoration hanging in the air fills an empty space well.
Regards,
Gert

Tue (92360) 2022-02-16 9:45

Hallo Benny,
Het heldere winterlicht is heel mooi op de warme kleuren van de gebouwen in het midden en de gevels aan de linkerkant. Het was een gezellige drukte in de stad hier en dat verlevendigt de foto zeer. Mooi werk.
Lars

PaulVDV (62892) 2022-02-16 9:55

Hallo Benny,
Mechelen is inderdaad een zeer mooie stad.
Verschillende van mijn vroegere collega's zijn verhuisd naar Mechelen en kwamen met de trein naar het werk (in Brussel).
Zij waren heel enthousiast over het wonen in Mechelen.
Prachtige blauwe uur-foto met een mooi contrast tussen de lucht en de kleur van de gevels, heel mooie gebouwen en een zeer levendige voorgrond.
Vele groeten, Paul

dedee (3073) 2022-02-16 10:01

Hi Benny
Lovely old buildings and well photographed. The light falling on the buildings is very attractive.
David

cargus (13954) 2022-02-16 10:16

Wonderful composition with interesting architectural details from a beautiful medieval buildings, very nice light management...
Regards
Adrian

lousat (139266) 2022-02-16 10:30

Hi Benny,beautiful capture of the old heart of Mechelen,great sunny day to take the colors in a very bright way, and the old building are truly beautiful,i like it! Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

pajaran (115891) 2022-02-16 14:38

Pozdrav.

Lep pogled, interesantan i dobar tekst ...
Lep deo grada i stara arhitektura, dobro pokazano sa lepim bojama, kontartsom i perespektivom.
Dobar rad, lepa fotografija.
Lepi uktrasi iznad trga.

Zelim vam sve najbolje.
Paja

COSTANTINO (116490) 2022-02-16 22:25

Hello dear Benny and have a nice day
original version
a wonderful postcard remitted
from you to all of us
a HISTORICAL city in the heart
of the old Brabant halfway
between antwerpen
and brussels
well done
regards
Costantino

jemaflor (147128) 2022-02-16 23:07

Hi Benny,
nice architecture well presented, a composition well balanced with the alignement in the left side, and the decoration on this blue BG, beautiful facade in the Bg, superbe light and so colors rendering, tfs.

Fis2 (170747) 2022-02-17 0:14

Witaj Benny!
A very nice square, view makesimpression.
I like this scene from daily life.
Good framing, colors and light.
Iteresting architecture.
Well done.
Good morning.
Krzysztof

abmdsudi (95869) 2022-02-17 6:26

Hi Benny
Graceful architecture and an attention grabber no wonder you couldn't resist taking this shot, so too are those throng of people as they enjoyed a visit to this handsome old city square. It's full of rich colours and detail a plenty for the eye to hover around. A competent shot so well organized.
Best regards

ifege (48085) 2022-02-17 21:53

Hi Benny
A great blue hour photo of this good looking town centre.
cheers
Ian

mkamionka (74407) 2022-02-18 5:00

Hi Benny,
Very eye catching well saturated colors. The flying heart makes a charming decoration. The heart of the city seems to be a repeated pattern. Nice asymmetric view of the square.
Excellent work,
M

emka (158156) 2022-02-18 19:13

Hello Benny, beautiful photo with the sky like in a blue hour.
I like Mechelen very much. Have you climbed 538 steps to see the view from the tower? It was a very hard job.

Best regards Malgo

everlasting (19680) 2022-02-24 7:51

beautiful clear winter sky acts an a great backdrop for this street scene nicely framed by the Christmas lights.