REVIEW | Speelgoedmuseum Mechelen Toy Museum

In 2024, the Speelgoedmuseum Mechelen or Mechelen Toy Museum in Mechelen (Malines, Mechlin), moved from the Nekkerspoel area of town to the Koning Allbertplein or King Albert Square adjacent to Mechelen Railway Station. Danny and I went to visit on a cold January 2025 Sunday.

The Speelgoedmuseum Mechelen was established in April 1982, the museum was located in the Nekkerspoel district of Mechelen, in the former premises of Meubelen Nova, until its relocation in 2024. There it had a surface of 7,000 m² to play with. It has held the status of a recognised museum since 1998.

The current museum

The Mechelen Toy Museum offers a journey through the world of toys and games, both past and present. It provides an immersive experience that appeals to all generations.

Visitors are invited to explore four themed rooms, each centred around a key question: what is playing, how do we play today and how did people play in the past, why do we play, and who plays?

The journey is both interactive and informative, encouraging guests to engage with the exhibits and uncover the answers while participating in games. Playing is not just an option—it’s essential to complete the adventure.

The museum blends its impressive collection with innovative experiences.

Nostalgia

Carefully curated pieces from its archives offer a glimpse into the rich history of toys, with items spanning from the Middle Ages to modern times.

Most of the collection originates from the 19th and 20th centuries, showcasing the evolution of play over the years. Interactive screens accompanying the displays provide additional information, allowing visitors to delve deeper into the stories behind each item. As such, the Speelgoedmuseum plays with our nostalgia.

A highlight of the visit is the opportunity to participate in a museum-wide game. Each guest receives a personal wristband, which tracks their score as they engage with various activities. The wristband also unlocks extra content when scanned at interactive floor screens, adding a layer of enrichment to the experience.

Behind the scenes, the museum manages a vast depot of more than 20,000 objects, preserving the tangible, intangible, and digital heritage of Belgian gaming culture. While the current exhibits showcase only a fraction of this extensive collection, temporary exhibitions occasionally feature rare and unique items from the archives.

“A visit to the Mechelen Toy Museum typically lasts around two hours, though time seems to fly when immersed in the world of play”, the museum website says.

It’s an ideal destination for families, nostalgic adults, and anyone curious about how the simple act of playing has shaped culture and society throughout history.

A visit

We did not need two hours, bu one. We’re fast museum visitors, must be said. We underused the wristband and didn’t play all the games which were available.

The morning of our visit, Thanh said his boyfriend’s nephew and niece found the new museum less fun than the old one.

The new museum has way less square metres to play with. But the new Toy Museum is nicely set up. It works with topics and levels. Bu following the levels 1 through 5, you’re gently nudge in the right direction.

It tackles topics of fun and games: toys and games test motor skills, toys and games make you move, toys and games challenge your brain, how to cope with rules or do you cheat etcetera.

At 17 euros, the entry fee is steep.