List of people from Mechelen

This is a list of Notable people from Mechelen, who were either born in Mechelen, or spent part of their life there.

Before 17th century



 * Henry Bate of Malines (1246 – after 1310) philosopher, theologian, astronomer-astrologer, poet, and musician.
 * Keldermans family of sculptors and architects, including Rombout II Keldermans (14th to 16th century)
 * Jan Standonck, priest and reformer, Master of the Collège de Montaigu in Paris (1454–1504)
 * Johannes Varennius (1462–1536), teacher at Collegium Trilingue, wrote: SYNTAXIS LINGVUAE GRAECAE… COLONIAE Martinus Gymnicus excudebat ANNO M.D.L.
 * Gommaert van der Gracht, painter (c. 1590-1639)
 * Ferry Carondelet, diplomat and abbot (1473–1528)
 * Michiel Coxie, Renaissance painter and designer of engravings and tapestries (1499–1592)
 * Rembert Dodoens, botanist, herbalist, and physician (1517–1585)
 * Philippe de Monte, Renaissance composer (1521–1603)
 * Crispin van den Broeck, painter (1523–1591)
 * Alexandre Colin, sculptor (1526–1612)
 * Gerhard Dorn, philosopher, translator, alchemist, physician, and bibliophile (c. 1530–1584)
 * Philips van der Aa, statesman (d. 1586)
 * Francis Coster, Jesuit and religious writer (1532–1619)
 * Johan van der Veeken (1549-1616), wealthy shipowner, merchant, banker and cofounder of the VOC Rotterdam.
 * Rinaldo del Mel, Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance (1554-c. 1598)
 * François Stella (1563-1605), was a French Baroque painter
 * David Vinckboons, painter (1576–1629)
 * Diego de Astor, Spanish engraver and medalist (1587–1650)

17th century until now

 * Faydherbe family of mostly sculptors, including Lucas Faydherbe (16th and 17th century)
 * Abraham van den Kerckhoven, organist and composer (c. 1618-c. 1701)
 * Theodoor Verhaegen, sculptor (1701–1759)
 * Lodewijk van Beethoven (1712–1770), Kapellmeister and grandfather of his namesake Ludwig van Beethoven
 * Thomas de Paep, painter (ca. 1628-1630 – 1670)
 * Jan Coxie, painter (1629 - 1670)
 * Peter Franchoys, painter (1606 – 1654)
 * Lucas Franchoys the Younger, painter (1616 – 1681)
 * Jan Philip van Thielen, painter (1618 – 1667)
 * Goswin de Stassart, politician (1780–1854)
 * Msgr. Victor Scheppers (1802–1877), founder of the Brothers of Mercy of Mechelen and the Scheppersinstituut Mechelen.
 * Egide Walschaerts, mechanical engineer (1820–1901)
 * Jef Denyn, musician and founder of the Royal Carillon School (1862–1941)
 * Rik Wouters, fauvist painter and sculptor (1882–1916)
 * Jean-Baptiste Janssens, Superior General of the Society of Jesus (1889–1964)
 * Adèle Colson, musician and first woman graduate of the Royal Carillon School (1905-1997)
 * Gaston Relens, painter (1909-2011)
 * Karel Verleye, co-founder of the College of Europe in Bruges (1920–2002)
 * Philibert Mees, composer and pianist (1929–2006)
 * Herman De Coninck, poet, essayist, journalist, and publisher (1944–1997)
 * Luc Van den Brande, politician (b. 1945)
 * Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, choreographer (b. 1960)
 * Bart Somers, politician and mayor (b. 1964)
 * Steven Defour, football player playing for Royal Antwerp F.C.
 * Dirk Van de Put, businessman, incoming CEO of Mondelez International

Lived in Mechelen

 * Margaret of York, Duchess of Burgundy (1446–1503)
 * Pierre Alamire, music copyist, composer, instrumentalist, mining engineer, merchant, diplomat, and spy (c. 1470–1536)
 * Philip the Handsome (also called "the Fair") (1478 – 1506), Duke of Burgundy and the first Habsburg King of Castile.
 * Margaret of Austria, regent of the Belgium Austriacum, daughter of Maximilian I and guardian of Charles V (1480–1530)
 * Mary, Eleanor and Isabella of Austria, nieces of Margaret of Austria
 * John Heywood, English poet (1497-c. 1575)
 * Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, born in Ghent, and brought up in Mechelen until age 17 (1500–1558)
 * Anne Boleyn, future wife of English King Henry VIII (1504–1536).
 * John Clement, English humanist, tutor of Thomas More's children (16th century)
 * Viglius, statesman and jurist (1507–1577)
 * Johannes Secundus, Neo-Latin poet (1511–1536)
 * Igram van Achelen, statesman (1528–1604)
 * Franciscus Monachus, geographer and cosmographer (c. 1490-1565)
 * François René Mallarmé, French politician in exile (1755–1835)
 * Pierre François Xavier de Ram, churchman and historian (1804–1865)
 * Florent Joseph Marie Willems, painter (1823–1905)
 * Jean Baptiste Abbeloos, orientalist (1836–1906)
 * Jules Van Nuffel, musicologist, composer, and expert on religious music (1883–1953)
 * Alice Nahon, poet (1896–1933)
 * Flor Peeters, composer, organist, and teacher (1903–1986)
 * Alexander Rubens, Lord of Vremdyck, grandson of the painter Peter Paul.
 * Maurits Sabbe, writer (1873–1938)