Martin's Patershof
A 13th-century church turned four-star hotel
About this hotel
Martin's Patershof takes a genuinely unusual approach in Mechelen's hotel scene: a working four-star hotel inside a converted 13th-century church, nine minutes' walk from Saint Rumbold's Cathedral and four from the Korenmarkt. The elegant rooms and suites sit under the building's original architecture rather than a generic renovation, and the cozy bar makes the evening after a Plopsaqua day feel like part of the experience rather than a functional stopover. Business-centre facilities and full-service laundry cover the practical side, while the central position keeps both the old town's restaurants and the taxi rank out to Nekkerspoel within easy reach. It's one of the more memorable stays in the near-waterpark cluster, not just one of the closer ones.
- Historic converted church
- Bar
- Business centre
- Central old-town location
Our take
Martin's Patershof suits a family who wants the stay itself to be part of the trip, not just a place to sleep between Plopsaqua days: a converted church setting, elegant rooms and a proper bar, all within a shorter run to the water park than the outlying budget or spa options. It costs more than the simpler central hotels, which is the main trade-off.
- ✓Book suites well ahead if travelling as a larger family, since the converted-church layout limits room count.
- ✓Have dinner at the on-site bar at least once, since the setting is part of what makes this stay distinctive.
- ✓Confirm parking arrangements in advance, since it's a paid add-on rather than included with the room.
Why we love it
- Converted 13th-century church setting
- Four minutes from the Korenmarkt
- Cozy on-site bar
- Elegant rooms and suites
Why guests love itStaying inside a 13th-century church sounds like a gimmick until you're actually there: the original architecture is everywhere, from the bar to the corridors, and it made the evenings after Plopsaqua feel like their own occasion rather than downtime. It's pricier than the simpler options nearby, and worth it specifically because the building itself, not just the location four minutes from the Korenmarkt, is the reason to book it.