Het Predikheren

Het Predikheren is a former Dominican monastery in Mechelen, Belgium, today reborn as one of the most striking public libraries in Europe. This baroque complex spans nearly a century of construction and has since passed through the hands of the church, the military, and finally the city itself, producing a building history unlike almost any other in the region.

How did the Dominicans end up here?

The Dominican Order, known as the Order of Preachers (which explains the Dutch name "Predikheren"), arrived in Mechelen in 1651. The friars were granted permission to establish a monastery together with a small chapel, and the monastic buildings themselves were completed in 1689. The community, however, quickly outgrew the modest chapel. After seven years of construction, a much larger church was inaugurated in 1736, giving the complex the baroque character that still defines it today. Altogether, the building took shape between roughly 1650 and 1735.

Why did the monastery stop being a monastery?

The fate of Het Predikheren changed dramatically with the French occupation. In 1796, the Dominican friars were expelled from the premises, and the complex was repurposed for military use — a pattern seen across many religious buildings confiscated during this period in Europe. Over the following decades it served as a barracks, an arms depot, and a military hospital. Throughout the 19th and most of the 20th century the site remained in military hands, until it was finally abandoned in 1975 and left to decay for several decades.

How did a monastery become a library?

After 35 years of neglect, the City of Mechelen made a decision in 2010 that would transform the complex once again: it would become the city's public library. Restoration work ran from 2011 to 2019, fully reviving the historic monastery structure while integrating contemporary architectural elements suited to a modern library. The result drew international attention — the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) named Het Predikheren one of the five most beautiful libraries in the world.

What can visitors see at Het Predikheren today?

Visitors can explore the striking baroque interiors of the former church and monastery, where centuries-old stone walls now stand alongside contemporary bookshelves, reading rooms, and workspaces. This blend of old and new is precisely what makes the site compelling — not only for book lovers, but also for anyone interested in architecture and the adaptive reuse of historic buildings. Despite its entirely new function, the interior retains much of the contemplative atmosphere it held during its centuries as a Dominican monastery.

Frequently asked questions

Is Het Predikheren still an active monastery? No — the Dominican friars left the building in 1796, and it now houses Mechelen's public library.

When was the building constructed? The complex was built roughly between 1650 and 1735, with the monastery church inaugurated in 1736.

Why is the library considered so exceptional? Because of its striking combination of baroque monastic architecture and a modern library interior — IFLA named it one of the five most beautiful libraries in the world.

What was the building used for before it became a library? From 1796 to 1975 it served military purposes as a barracks, arms depot, and military hospital, before standing abandoned until restoration began in 2011.