De Nekker, Provincial sports and recreation area in Mechelen, Belgium
De Nekker is a recreation area with a lake in Mechelen that offers diverse leisure options. The site features an artificial beach with fine sand, year-round pools, playgrounds, sports facilities, and green lawns for relaxation.
De Nekker is a provincial sports and recreation domain of the province of Antwerp, laid out southeast of Mechelen's centre near the Nekkerspoel district. The sources record no clay pits or brickworks: the site is a 65-hectare domain with a large pond and sandy beach, bordered by the Dijle, the Mechels Broek reserve and the Nekkerhal exhibition hall. The province planned an indoor pool there.
The name De Nekker comes from a local legend about a nekker, a water demon from Scandinavian mythology said to have lived in the pond and tormented walkers. According to the tale, Saint Rumbold, patron saint of Mechelen, drove the creature away. Visitors still find the name on the domain beside the Nekkerspoel district.
The area is easy to access with ample parking and spaces for visitors with reduced mobility. Bicycles can be rented, and facilities include toilets, changing rooms, and a bar-restaurant with a terrace overlooking the water and grounds.
The water is continuously monitored and has received the Blue Flag eco-label, confirming that quality meets high standards. The nearby Mechels Broek nature reserve complements the area and offers additional ways to explore the surrounding landscape.
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