From brewery to monastery: distinctive meetings in Mechelen’s heritage sites
‘Your first speaker is your venue’. Even before the first speaker takes the floor, the venue already conveys what a conference stands for. A special venue inspires, amazes and immediately sets the right tone for your programme.
Change is at the heart of every conference or knowledge event. Organisations come together to look to the future, share knowledge or chart a new course. But how impactful is a message about innovation if you deliver it in a soulless conference hall?
Within the Flanders Heritage Venues network, Mechelen boasts two venues that demonstrate how heritage evolves with the times: the former Lamot brewery and Het Predikheren. Two historic sites, each with its own character, but sharing the same asset: they offer an inspiring backdrop for gatherings that make an impact.
Lamot: from industrial brewing kettles to an ideas factory
Where Mechelen’s barley brew was once produced, new plans and strategic visions are now taking shape. The former brewery complex has been transformed into a contemporary conference and heritage centre, situated right on the banks of the Dijle in the historic city centre. With a total capacity of up to 300 people, Lamot is ideally equipped for large-scale conferences and multi-day events.
The spaces and surroundings
The transformation from a robust industrial building into a hyper-functional meeting place gives the building its character. This was once the industrial heart of Mechelen, where pioneers experimented with steam power and new brewing techniques. That entrepreneurial spirit is still palpable.
The Begijnenzolder used to be the boardroom and now serves as a meeting room, complete with a roof terrace and sweeping views over the city and St Rumbold’s Tower. You’ll find yourself meeting literally within the contours of an old grain silo. The brewing kettles have made way for contemporary design and unobstructed views of the water.
The conference centre is situated right next to the Vismarkt, one of the liveliest squares in the city. During a break, you can stroll straight onto the wooden Dijlepad, and after the sessions, the programme flows seamlessly into a networking opportunity in the city centre.
Het Predikheren: tranquillity and fresh ideas in an award-winning setting
On the other side of the city centre, Het Predikheren showcases a very different form of regeneration. This 17th-century monastery complex has been transformed into the city library and a cultural hotspot for Mechelen. The site has already won several international architecture awards and has even been voted one of the most beautiful libraries in the world.
Tranquillity and gastronomy
As a Flanders Heritage Venue, the complex offers a peaceful, stylish setting. In addition to atmospheric breakout and meeting rooms set around the historic cloisters, the entire complex exudes an atmosphere of tranquillity, knowledge-sharing and dialogue. This is also reflected in the culinary experience, thanks to Michelin-starred chef Ken Verschueren, who, with his restaurants Tinèlle and Barbib, complements the whole experience with high-quality gastronomy.
A rich history
The monumental complex, situated in a leafy city park, has a rich history. Following the departure of the Dominicans, it served for many years as a military hospital and barracks, followed by a long period of disuse. The historical layers naturally inspire a sense of tranquillity and reflection. This backdrop takes on even greater significance due to the immediate proximity of Kazerne Dossin. A gathering at Het Predikheren therefore transcends the everyday: it places business visions and social themes within a setting where culture, reflection and progress converge.
The site’s highlight
The icing on the cake of this site is the restored Predikherenkerk. Today, the nave has been converted into an intimate venue for up to 130 people. Where monks once prayed and, later, cavalry horses were tethered to rings in the wall, the architects deliberately chose to preserve these historical traces. Peeling layers of paint and weathered stones were not concealed, but combined with modern comforts. Beneath the imposing vaulted ceiling, this creates a setting rich in character that invites focus: where sermons were once delivered, dialogue now flourishes, and new ideas are given free rein.
Looking for change yourself?
By choosing a venue that has itself undergone a transformation, you send a powerful message to your participants from the very first minute: renewal comes about by bringing the past into the future.
In a compact, walkable city like Mechelen, that experience isn’t limited to the plenary hall either. After an inspiring talk, you can stroll across centuries-old cobblestones to a networking dinner, past the city’s green spaces and waterways.
Choosing the Flanders Heritage Venues in Mechelen means choosing a setting with character and an event that brings about a lasting transformation.
