New Toy Museum under Mechelen station opens its doors this weekend: “It must be a real toy museum” (Mechelen)

This weekend the time has finally come. Then the brand new Toy Museum will open under the station in Mechelen. The museum was actually supposed to open its doors at the new location in September 2021, but corona and many other crises threw a spanner in the works. Three years later, the museum, which is located in a space that would originally serve as an archive for the NMBS, is fully ready to receive its first guests.

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“About ten years ago we started thinking about the future of the museum,” says Bart Stroobants, chairman of the non-profit organization Toy Museum. “Because the lease agreement with the city for the Nova building in Nekkerspoel was going to end and that location was completely used up. It quickly became clear that a move was necessary, but finding a good location ultimately proved to be no easy task.”

Until the museum ended up in the station. “We actually couldn’t wish for a better location,” he says. “At first there was some doubt, because wouldn’t we be buried too much in an underground location? But it soon became clear that this place is ideal. Sunlight, for example, is detrimental to the collection items. Moreover, our most important condition was that we could remain based in Mechelen.”

Top attraction

“And it is also perfect in terms of mobility,” adds Mayor Bart Somers (For Mechelen). “With Plopsa Station Antwerp and Trainworld in Schaarbeek, there are already several hotspots for children on the railway line between Antwerp and Brussels. The Toy Museum adds a new top attraction. In addition, both Mechelen stations are attractions for the little ones, because at Nekkerspoel station we have the beautiful Pardoes children’s bookstore.”

“At first there was some doubt, because wouldn’t we be buried too much in an underground location? But it soon became clear that this place is ideal. Sunlight, for example, is detrimental to the collection items. Moreover, our most important condition was that we could remain based in Mechelen”

Bart Stroobants

Chairman of the non-profit organization Toy Museum

To finance the move, the city came up with money. Interest-free loans were also granted. “But those investments were necessary to make the Toy Museum more contemporary,” says director Niek De Meester. “We are now focusing much more on interactivity. Instead of a toy museum, it should become a good play museum. People of all ages should be able to enjoy themselves here to their heart’s content.”

Correct tracks

From a Roman doll to a game board found under the Grote Markt to the latest set of Lego, it all belongs to the museum’s rich collection. “We cannot possibly show all our 35,000 pieces, but we have worked in a scientific manner to create the best experience,” says De Meester. “We are convinced that we will have the museum on the right track for a period of at least 25 years.”

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Children’s city

“With the opening of the Toy Museum, we have a brand new museum that meets modern requirements,” says Alderman for Culture Björn Siffer (For Mechelen). “In addition, from the station you can easily reach Planckendael and Technopolis, two other tourist attractions for children in our city. In this way we confirm our status as a children’s city.”

The Toy Museum opens its doors to the general public on Saturday, October 5. You will find it under the station, at the underground car park and the kiss-and-ride.

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