Toy Museum Mechelen reopens in new train station location with more interactive exhibits

Not only does Mechelen’s toy museum have a new home in the city’s central train station, it has also undergone a revamp.

Already boasting one of the largest toy collections in Europe, the museum invites children, as well as adults keen to explore their inner child, to try out its vast range of games and toys.

With no fewer than 30,000 historical and contemporary collector's items, there are now plenty of interactive elements for all ages.

It has long been established that playing possesses a key role in a child's development. Some new areas are dedicated to brain games to stimulate thinking, board games that distinguish good from evil and an area dedicated to socio-emotional well-being.

In different spaces of the museum, visitors are confronted with questions such as “What is play?” or “Why do we play?”. Meanwhile, children can also get creative in the cafeteria where a dedicated wall is designed for their wax crayon drawings.

The new museum in its underground location was inaugurated on 5 October. It was previously housed near Nekkerspoel station, but after 42 years the collection was in need of more modern space for its growing number of exhibits.

Visitor information is provided in Dutch, French and English.