Church of Our Lady across the river Dijle

The Church of Our Lady across the River Dijle (Dutch: Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-over-de-Dijlekerk) stands on the left bank of the Dijle river in Mechelen, in the Antwerp province of Belgium. Its name describes its position precisely — the church rises directly above the riverbank, on the spot local tradition holds as the site of the city's very first parish church.

How old is this parish?

The earliest recorded mention of the parish of Our Lady across the Dijle dates from 1236. Nothing survives of the building from that period — it was most likely destroyed during the great city fire of 1342. The church visible today was constructed in stages across three centuries: the 14th, 15th and 16th, which explains the stylistic differences visible between its various sections.

What architectural style defines the church?

The building is an example of Brabantine Gothic, the style typical of the historic Southern Netherlands. Its layout includes a three-aisled nave of seven bays, closed off by a five-sided choir with an ambulatory, and transept chapels attached to the sides. This kind of plan — with a walkway circling the main altar — allowed pilgrims and worshippers to move around the sanctuary without disrupting services taking place at the high altar.

What can visitors see inside?

The church tower houses a complete carillon of no fewer than 49 bells, an instrument large enough to perform full musical repertoires rather than simple hourly chimes. Mechelen has a particularly strong carillon tradition, and this set of bells forms part of that broader civic heritage.

Among the artworks inside, two triptychs stand out. The first, known as the triptych of the fishmongers, was painted by Peter Paul Rubens, one of the most significant Baroque painters of Northern Europe. The second, the Saint Anthony triptych, was created by Michiel II Coxie, a 16th-century painter known for his work for courts and churches throughout the region.

What turbulent events has the church survived?

The building's history reflects the religious upheavals that swept the Low Countries during the 16th century. During the Mechelen iconoclasm of 23 August 1566 — a wave of destruction of religious images carried out by Reformed protesters — the church across the Dijle was spared. Local boatmen and river workers blocked the protesters from reaching the building, keeping them outside its walls.

The church did not escape later misfortune, however. In 1572 it was plundered during the so-called Spanish Fury, a wave of violence inflicted by Spanish soldiers on cities of the Low Countries during the Eighty Years' War. Eight years later, in 1580, the church was stripped of its religious imagery by Protestant reformers, a typical act within the broader Reformation-era rejection of sacred images and statues.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church located? On the left bank of the Dijle in Mechelen, on a site traditionally identified as the location of the city's first parish church.

From which period does the building date? The current structure was built between the 14th and 16th centuries, in the Brabantine Gothic style.

What is the main highlight inside? A triptych painted by Rubens and the Saint Anthony triptych by Michiel II Coxie, along with the 49-bell carillon in the tower.

Did the church suffer during the religious wars? Yes — it survived the 1566 iconoclasm thanks to local boatmen defending it, but it was plundered during the Spanish Fury of 1572 and stripped of religious images in 1580.