Mechelen Communal Cemetery

Mechelen Communal Cemetery is the city's main burial ground, established under an edict of 26 June 1784 that prohibited burials within the city walls. Since then the cemetery has served the residents of Mechelen as a place of final rest, while over the decades it has also become a testament to the region's turbulent military history.

Why does this cemetery carry military significance?

The cemetery includes a Belgian military honor section dedicated to soldiers who fell during the First World War — according to available records, several hundred Belgian servicemen from that conflict are buried here, along with a small number from the Second World War. Mechelen served for a long time as Belgium's main garrison town, which explains the presence of numerous graves of high-ranking officers along the cemetery's main paths.

A "Monument to the Fallen" from the First World War stands centrally within the honor section. After the Second World War, the names of additional Mechelen residents who died or went missing in that conflict were added to the monument, turning it into a combined memorial for both world wars.

Are there Commonwealth war graves here?

Yes. The cemetery contains three Commonwealth war graves from the Second World War, cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The British Expeditionary Force took part in the defence of Belgium during the German invasion of May 1940, and Commonwealth forces did not return to the region until September 1944. In the intervening years, a number of airmen were shot down or crashed during raids on strategic targets in Belgium, or while returning from missions over Germany — some of them are buried in this cemetery.

What traces remain of the bombing raids and V1 attacks?

Beyond the military graves, the cemetery holds a significant number of Belgian civilian graves from the Second World War — mainly people who died during Allied bombing raids and V1 flying bomb attacks on Mechelen and its surroundings. These sections are a reminder that the war affected not only soldiers but also the city's civilian population.

What else can be found at the cemetery?

Aside from the military section, Mechelen Communal Cemetery is the resting place of many well-known local residents, with artists and politicians buried along what is known as the honor lane. The layout of the cemetery, with its representative avenues and carefully designed plots, has led it to be described as one of the oldest and best-preserved cemeteries of its kind in the region.

The cemetery lies northeast of Mechelen's town center, near the N14 road connecting the city with Lier, making it an accessible stop for anyone interested in military history and local heritage.

Frequently asked questions

When was the cemetery established? The cemetery was founded in 1784, following an edict that banned burials within Mechelen's city walls.

How many Commonwealth graves are at the cemetery? The cemetery contains three officially recorded Commonwealth war graves from the Second World War.

Is the cemetery still an active burial site? Yes, alongside its historic military plots and honor sections, the cemetery continues to serve as a burial ground for the residents of Mechelen.