Venue

Mechelen was once the capital of the Burgundian Netherlands (present-day Belgium and Holland). It has one of the highest concentrations of monuments North of the Alps, and is unique in Flanders in being listed not once but four times on the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage sites. The belfries of the City Hall and St. Rumbold's Cathedral and the city's Large and Small Beguinage have all been listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Mechelen makes the ideal base for exploring the whole of Flanders. It's just 25 kilometers (15 miles) from Brussels, Leuven and Antwerp; 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Ghent and 110 kilometers (68 miles) from Bruges. Located just 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Brussels and Antwerp airports, Mechelen is also easily accessible by airplane.

Picture by pagan Beguinage church This photo is a detail from the Italian styled baroque interior of the Beguinage church. The church dates from 1637 and was dedicated to Sint-Alexius and Sint-Catharina.

Picture by pagan St Rumbold's Cathedral in the center of the city of Mechelen. The cathedral was built in honor of Saint Rombout (Rumbold), a seventh century Irish missionary, and it is rumored that his remains are buried inside the cathedral. State-of-the-art examination of the relics assumed to be St. Rumbold's, showed a death date between 580 and 655, while tradition had claimed 775. Twenty-five paintings in the choir illustrate the life of the saint. The construction was started shortly after 1200, and during the final phase in 1452-1520, the tower of the cathedral itself was constructed.

Picture by wolfie Lamot Congress and Heritage Centre, The Lamot Congress and Heritage Centre is where the congress will take place. Together with the brewery, it is situated in the heart of Mechelen, in the middle of the Lamot-site. But the Lamot-site is more. Beside the brewery, you will find a hotel (Novotel), a supermarket (Match), several smaller shops, offices and 44 luxury apartments. Underground there is a parking garage for 269 cars. The site is connected by a pedestrian bridge for to the Vismarkt (Fish Market), the most trendy spot in Mechelen. The former brewery has an auditorium seating 300 people, 2 polyvalent halls with a capacity up to 400 persons and different smaller meeting rooms. For more information about the location of the Lamot, please consult its website: www.lamot-mechelen.be. Lamot

How to get in Mechelen?

By car (highway)

Via E19 from Brussels, Antwerp: exit Mechelen-Noord (for the city centre); paid parking from Mon-Sat in the centre.
Via E19 / E17 from Ghent and Bruges
Via N26 from Leuven

By train

Mechelen has two stations: the main station (with public transport links to Technopolis and the Planckendael Safari Park) and Mechelen-Nekkerspoel (a short walk to the centre) – see www.b-rail.be for timetables – there are regular services from Brussels and Brussels Airport, Antwerp, Leuven and Ghent.

By airplane

Zaventem Brussels International Airport (BRU) at 18 km
Antwerp-Deurne airport (ANR) at 25 km
You can take a taxi from the airport to your hotel at a rate of about 35 €.