Climb Mechelen’s St-Rumbold’s Tower and Skywalk

St. Rumbold’s tower in all its Glory

St. Rumbold’s Tower and Skywalk: You can see it from far and wide, the majestic St. Rombouts Tower, the beacon of our beautiful city of Mechelen. The showpiece on the edge of the Grote Markt and Wollemarkt. You look up to the top of the tower, he looks down via the Skywalk. Climb and explore St. Rombout’s Cathedral and the tower with me. UNESCO has listed St. Rombout’s Tower as a World Heritage Site.

St. Rumbold's tower seen from the Place of Culture (Mechelen)
St. Rumbold’s tower seen from the Place of Culture (Mechelen)
@Verschueren Eddy

A Piece of History of the Malines Tower

1452 is the year that makes history for St. Rumbold’s Tower, when the first stone was laid but no one knows where it is. From 1462 the real building work begins under the care of Andries Keldermans who also wrote his name in the construction of the Town Hall. Upon the death of Andries Keldermans, his son Antoon took charge of further construction work. Perhaps another factoid, the name Keldermans is also found in the eponymous Keldermansvest located on the Dijle river.

St. Rumbold's Tower in the city of Mechelen Flanders Belgium
St. Rumbold’s Tower in the city of Mechelen Flanders Belgium
@Verschueren Eddy

Perhaps a factoid before you climb the tower yourself. Celebrities have already preceded you on the steps in the past. In 1745, Louis XV already climbed the Saint-Rombouts tower. Napoleon Bonaparte also saw Mechelen from the air in 1803. During the World War, King Albert I used the tower as a vantage point. The late King Baudouin climbed the steps to the top with his wife Queen Fabiola.

The St. Rumbold’s tower is of course known worldwide for its 2 carillons. The bells for that carillon were installed in 1492 by Wouter Scheers, but six years later disaster struck. A fierce fire in the tower destroyed almost all the bells. In Mechelen it was all hands on deck, as quickly as possible was ordered to cast new bells, of which today the Salvatore bell, weighing 8 tons, is still the heaviest…. Read more below the photos

Bell chamber where the carillon lavishes its sounds on city of Mechelen
Bell chamber where the carillon lavishes its sounds on city of Mechelen
@Verschueren Eddy
The Carillon Room in the St. Rumbold's Tower in city of Mechelen Flanders Belgium
The Carillon Room in the St. Rumbold’s Tower in city of Mechelen Flanders Belgium
@Verschueren Eddy

In 1687 there was again great panic among the people of Mechelen. Alarm was raised because the tower was on fire again . Fortunately, it was a false alarm; while putting out the fire with buckets of water, it turned out that the moon had a red glow that night, and was just behind the tower. A trick of the eye, but from then on the people of Mechelen have been nicknamed“The Maneblussers“.

What you may not yet know is that St. Rombout’s Tower was actually never finished. Presumably, the construction of the tower suddenly stopped sometime in the year 1550. The plans called for another spire on top, just like on Antwerp’s Cathedral of Our Lady, once so beautifully sung about by La Esterella.

Finally, the tower did not reach 167 meters in height, but 97.5 meters with a weight of no less than 42 000 tons. Another fact, the people of Mechelen popularly call it“our fool“. For several years, Peregrine falcons have again been living in St. Rombout’s Tower. It is a pair that came to appreciate our beautiful stone tower in 2003. You can read more about the Peregrine Falcons on the tower here. You can also follow the peregrine falcons family with any luck directly on the webcam.

The Skywalk for a Breathtaking Panorama

St. Rumbold’s Cathedral and its tower are visited annually by more than 30,000 tourists from all over the world. Not only for its pomp and splendor outside and inside the cathedral, but also for its outstanding view from the stainless steel structure, the Skywalk.

The Skywalk on the St. Rumbold's Tower offers fantastic panoramic views
The Skywalk on the St. Rumbold’s Tower offers fantastic panoramic views
@Visit Mechelen

To reach the Skywalk, you only have to climb 538 steps. You may think that’s a lot, but don’t worry, during your trek up, you can take rest breaks several times. You are completely free during the ascent, so you can take whatever time you want.

Music sounds from St. Rumbold's tower in city of Mechelen
Music sounds from St. Rumbold’s tower in city of Mechelen
@Verschueren Eddy

The six tower rooms contain information pedestals. These give you more information about the different floors you are on through text, short films and audio clips. Along the way there are information boards where you can read all the important information. A free visitor’s guide in five languages is available, which is also aimed at children

Resting points are the Tower Rooms with successively the Crane Room, the Blacksmith Shop, the Clock Room, the Old Carillon Room, the Clock Room, the Carillon Room and the Ash Cellar.

Spiral staircase to the Skywalk for stunning panoramic views
from the St. Rumbold's Tower city of Mechelen Flanders Belgium
Spiral staircase to the Skywalk for stunning panoramic views
from the St. Rumbold’s Tower city of Mechelen Flanders Belgium
@Verschueren Eddy

Through a spiral staircase you can already smell the fresh upper air of the Skywalk. It is a walking platform with a glass floor. You will be amazed by the breathtaking view and panorama. In fine and clear weather, you can see the city of Lier, the cathedral of Antwerp and the Atomium of Brussels.

Important facts are the weight of the Skywalk of 14.5 tons, In total, this project has cost more than 337 000 €, but it really pays off. Because of the many resting points, visitors who are less able to walk can also visit the Skywalk.

View of Grote Markt from Skywalk and Sint-Rumbold's Tower in city of Mechelen Flanders Belgium
View of Grote Markt from Skywalk and Sint-Rumbold’s Tower in city of Mechelen Flanders Belgium
@Verschueren Eddy

Since January 1, 2015, the operation of the St. Romboutstoren has been in the hands of the tourist non-profit organization VVV Mechelen. There is also one central reception desk for both the cathedral and the tower. Via Buitengewoon Mechelen you can watch the sun rise and set from the skywalk. Companies and associations can book an aperitif on the tower, or even rent the tower, for example for a team-building activity via the non-profit organization Brouwgebouw Lamot

10000 visitors annually from all over the world

More than half of the tower’s visitors come from abroad. Most visitors, in addition to their own compatriots, come from the Netherlands, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom. But touring Poles, Russians, Americans, Italians, Canadians, Japanese and Brazilians were also welcome to visit Mechelen’s largest monument.

The reception desk in front of St. Rumbold's Tower in city of Mechelen Flanders Belgium
The reception desk in front of St. Rumbold’s Tower in city of Mechelen Flanders Belgium
@Verschueren Eddy

Before you can access the tower, you must first pass the reception desk. The front desk was completely renovated in February 2016, in conjunction with the Metropolitan Church Factory and the City of Mechelen, and adapted to the digital age. Once past the majestic wooden entrance gates, you have a direct view of the interior of St. Rumbold’s Cathedral through the glass doors .

On the right side there is a digital information kiosk where you can look up information about Mechelen using a touch screen. The reception desk is located on the left side of the portal. Two digital screens give you images of what to expect as you climb the tower to the skywalk.

Digital info column for St. Rumbold's tower in city of Mechelen
Digital info column for St. Rumbold’s tower in city of Mechelen
@Verschueren Eddy

A tower visit has also been integrated with events in the city since 2015. Thus, during the year-end period in December 2015, three nocturnes in circus atmosphere on the occasion of Circus Ronaldo’s evening shows were organized. Those evening openings still accounted for 229 visitors.

Perhaps another fun detail for a day out to Mechelen, is the annual bell throwing. This popular event is organised by the city in the month of September. In this 1946 tradition, red PVC bells are then sent from the tower via a cable to the town hall. Along the way, the bells fall among the crowd. Each time, one of the bells contains a ticket that allows you to win a bronze bell. Read more about it via clock-throwing.

Practical information for a Tower visit

Price :
Adults €8 – groups ( min. 10 pers ) €6
Children and young people ( from 3 to 26 years ) €3.
There are advantageous rates for families with a family card of 20% discount
Mechelen schools pay 2 € per pupil. A teacher’s card is 6 €
Owners of an Uitpas pay €2
Discounts for other leisure activities (e.g. a boat trip on the Dijle) via your tower ticket
Not accessible to wheelchair users.

Tickets can be bought at the Tourism Office Visit Mechelen, and at the entrance to St Rombouts Cathedral or online.
The tower can be climbed every day from Sunday to Friday from 1pm to 6pm.
Saturday from 10am to 6pm.
Sunday from 1pm to 6pm
Duration : +/- 120 minutes
(Prices and opening hours subject to change)

Share Your Experiences and Suggestions about St. Rumbold’s Tower!

Have you been to St. Rumbold’s Tower recently? We would love to hear about your adventures and solutions! Your insight helps us keep our tourism page updated and improved. Whether you’ve discovered a hidden spot, found a great view or have tips for other travelers, your feedback is invaluable. Share your experiences and suggestions with us verschueren.eddy@gmail.com and help others get the most out of their visit to the Saint Rombouts Tower. Together we will create the ultimate guide to Mechelen!

For even more comprehensive information, I can recommend the official website of the City of Mechelen … Perhaps another tip, you can plan your route through Mechelen with the CityTrip Planner