(Flemish Mechelen, French Malines), a town of Belgium, province of Antwerp, in the midst of a rich level country on both sides of the Dyle, 14 miles S.S.E. of Antwerp. The town is well built, and has broad and clean streets, as well as a large and handsome square called the Place d'Armes. The most remarkable edifice in Mechlin is the cathedral, built in the fifteenth century, and dedicated to St Rombaud. This fine building, which is in the Gothic style of architecture, has a square tower 348 feet in height, with a fine peal of bells; and although in its present state it is nearly as high as St Paul's in London, yet, according to the original design, it was to have been surmounted by a spire which would have made the total height 640 feet. Even the present tower, however, is out of all proportion to the body of the building. The cathedral contains a picture of the Last Supper by Rubens, which, though in some respects a fine picture, is not considered on the whole to be a favourable specimen of its artist, and is not in a good state of preservation. There are several side-chapels containing pictures, of which the most celebrated is the "Crucifixion," by Vandyke, which was declared by Sir Joshua Reynolds to be not only the best of the productions of that painter, but also one of the finest paintings in the world. The pulpit is adorned with a carved representation of the Conversion of St Paul. There are several other churches in Mechlin, some of which contain pictures by Rubens. Of these, the finest is that of the "Adoration of the Magi," in the church of St John. The other remarkable buildings in Mechlin are—the archbishop's palace, a modern edifice, which, though plain, is handsome; the Beguinage, an asylum for aged women, having a chapel with a beautiful front attached; the arsenal and cannon foundry; and the town-hall. The town also possesses a college, an academy of paintings, a society of fine arts, a botanic garden, and several charitable institutions. Mechlin has long been distinguished by the manufacture of fine lace; but this branch of industry has in the present day much fallen off, and there are now only eight houses in operation; while the lace made here is coarser and less valuable than that of Brussels. There are also manufactures of straw and felt hats, woollen and linen fabrics, oil, leather, candles, paper, &c. Mechlin possesses several breweries, and the beer which is produced is of a peculiar quality, and acquires, when kept, a flavour resembling that of wine. Among the articles for which Mechlin is famous is a sort of gingerbread, and the déjeuner de Malines, a dish much esteemed by epicures, made up of pigs' ears and feet, along with other ingredients. The trade of the place is considerable; the principal articles are corn, oil, hemp, and flax, together with the various products of manufacture. The town also derives much importance from its situation on a navigable river and a canal to Louvain, as well as from being the place of junction of four lines of railway. The earliest period to which the history of Mecklin can be traced is the fifth century; when it seems to have been a place of some importance, and the capital of a lordship. It then belonged to the French. It was sacked by the Normans in the ninth century; and in 910 was given over to the Bishop of Liège. In the fourteenth century it had risen to great importance; but in after times it suffered many calamities, especially from the ravages of war. Sacked by the Spanish troops in 1572, it was again taken, six years after, by the Prince of Orange. Mecklin was captured by Marlborough in 1706, and by the French in 1748. Finally, it was again taken by the French in 1792, by whom, in 1804, its fortifications were destroyed. Pop. (1851) 30,372.