Malinas Opens with 19 Stores and Brasserie

Mechelen has its Outdoor Shopping Park

The people of Mechelen (Belgium) have been begging on social media for years for an Albert Heijn in their city. Since Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, their wish has been granted and they got the largest in the country, Albert Heijn XL, in one fell swoop. With this, after only one year of construction, and many late hours of discussion at the city hall, a total of 19 stores and 1 brasserie have opened their doors in the greenest open-air shopping park in Belgium. Malinas is the Spanish translation for Mechelen, from where this choice, no idea, but in any case it evokes southern atmospheres in our city.
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Together with the press, I had an appointment at 8:45 a.m. at the brand new shopping center. Traditionally, the speeches were not lacking. Mr. Jan Du Bois (Project Developer Mitiska REIM) took the first speech, followed by Acting Mayor Alexander Vandersmissen. Immediately after the speeches, the inauguration sign was unveiled.

1st Albert Heijn XL in Belgium

At the stroke of 10 a.m., after cutting the blue ribbon, the very first Albert Heijn XL was opened to the public in Belgium and Mechelen. Many shoppers formed a long queue with shopping carts even before opening time. Continue reading below the photos

The Dutch retail chain is simultaneously celebrating its 10th anniversary, opening its 65th store in Belgium with no less than 3500m2 of retail space or should I say shopping pleasure. Even for connoisseurs of Albert Heijn, this store will be a totally different experience. Store manager Jan Peeters confides that he will spoil the Malinois.

In the store, I discover a surprisingly large assortment of food and non-food products. The store’s wide aisles give you plenty of room to move around for pleasant shopping. This Albert Heijn prides itself on offering homegrown and local products in ample quantities.

In a nutshell, a fresh square with fruits and misted vegetables, an xl bakery, An island with 161 refrigerated vegan products and extra lots of plant-based products, over 420! Asian Streetfood made fresh in the store including sushi, spring rolls, pad thai, mango sticky rice and a variety of appetizers to share. Continue reading below the photos

In short, the team at Albert Heijn XL is committed 7/7 to offering you products at Dutch prices. If you have little time to store during the week, don’t worry because the store is also open on Sundays between 08:00 and 12:00.

In addition to the entrance, local Radio Reflex provided live broadcasts so that listeners at home could also experience Malinas’ opening live. More info https://www.ah.be/ and https://winkelparkmalinas.be/

8.22 hectares of Forest Cut, 11.6 hectares Planted Back

To build the shopping center, 5.8 hectares of forest were cut down within the project area of the loop itself. As compensation, 11.6 hectares were planted across Geraardsbergen, Herent, Kortessem, Lichtaart and Wortegem-Petegem and Mechelen. A total of 33,111 m² thus reappeared on Mechelen territory (Kauwendaal). That is 57% of the original Mechelen area felled.

Twenty-one existing relatively young trees were relocated. An additional 2.42 hectares of valuable forest were cut down for the new access infrastructure to be built (i.e. outside the loop). Of this, 2.96 hectares will be compensated on Mechelen territory. It concerns an area in Walem, located between the E19, the Nete and the Spildoornvijver (Source Wikipedia)

Not surprisingly, a lot of the river Dijle flowed through the town hall when it was announced that the forest would be cut down. Nature action groups in particular made themselves heard.

Remarkable but by convention, the two salt silos are still there and show off Malinas’ logo as a landmark. The silos were restored and moved by Monument Hainaut. It was not an easy job to move the 12-ton silos 300 meters on construction site.

19 stores strengthen downtown Mechelen

“Malinas employs 300 people, often people with low education” says Alexander Vandersmissen “It is also the most sustainable shopping park in the country including a green roof, 7,000 solar panels, and a reed bed as a natural rain buffer“.

BabyDump, Vanden Borre, AS Adventure, Leen Bakker, JBC, Pro Duo … are the regulars who after many years of being located at the Rode Kruisplein and the Guido Gezellelaan have now moved into their new location within Malinas. Newcomers include Action, which is celebrating its 200th store with this, Lidl, X2O, AVA, C&A, Murs, Jysk, Maxi Zoo, Sleepworld, Juntoo, Kwantum and Eggo.

These are businesses that cannot be planned within the city center due to their surface area. Therefore, it is not competition for these merchants but an addition and added value to the Mechelen trade. Initially, says Mayor Alexander Vandersmissen, there were plans to bring the Mechelen soccer teams Racing and KV Mechelen together in one soccer stadium. But after long meetings, the choice then fell to Malinas.

Maneblusser City

Those strolling past the stores will discover ‘Maneblusser City‘ on the upper floor. It will certainly not have escaped your notice over the past few weeks, city brewery Het Anker is opening a brasserie in the shopping complex. Via stairs or elevator you enter the unique soothing interior of “Maneblusser City.
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Charles Leclef tells me it is a totally different concept from this one at the brewery. In other words, it’s tailored to the shopper. You can go there for a quick bite, a beer, a coffee, but more than the traditional fast food chains.

Maneblusser City invites to enjoy after shopping but also just as an outing for a nice afternoon. At the front, large windows overlook the above-ground parking lot and the E19 highway. At the back there is plenty of space on the outdoor terrace where a stage invites says Leclef to host any musical events. Maneblusser City is open from 8 a.m. every day.

Malinas Shopping Park Accessibility

I chose to brave this chilly autumn morning by bike. From Mc Donalds via the towpath it is a mere 10 minutes of cycling. Along a newly constructed winding foot and bike path and a bike tunnel, I reach the bike racks where there is room for 140 bikes.

By car, you can reach the Malinas shopping park on Nora Tilleylaan from the N16 via the R6 parallel road. On this opening day, the above-ground parking lot was quickly full, but not to worry. There is also ample parking underground. In total, there is room for 900 cars and there are charging stations for electric cars.

Public transportation has also been considered with a new bus stop ‘Kantvelden’ on the N16. Line 6 of De Lijn makes regular stops at Malinas. On Saturdays PM runs a special bus service as a shuttle back and forth between Mechelen Central Station and Malinas Shopping Park.

Text, photos and video Verschueren Eddy (Mechelen op zijn Best)