Mechelen, Belgium

Capital City

With a population of just 75,000, Mechelen may seem like a sleepy backwater, but its strategic location on the Brussels-Antwerp axis means residents have to contend with heavy industry and busy rail lines. The city's religious and historical pedigree are undeniable, but the extensive bureaucracy and occasional flare-ups of civil unrest are a persistent headache. Those seeking a quaint Flemish town experience may be better served elsewhere, as Mechelen's modern realities often clash with its romanticized image.