Mechelen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – An extensive fire ignited Tivoli Castle in Mechelen on the evening of January 29th, 2025, and demanded complete firefighting intervention from 80 personnel. No injuries are reported.
Emergency teams encountered difficulties in responding to the Tivoli Castle fire, which started not long before midnight on Tuesday. The renovation work obstructed firefighters’ access to the castle’s interiors, so emergency responders relied on aerial equipment to battle the flames based on insights provided by Gert Creemers of the Rivierenland Emergency Services zone.
Tivoli Castle exists inside the boundaries of a park area. The available accessibility lacked ideal conditions, according to Creemers. The scaffold structure around the building created extra support to help control the fire, but its stability declined because of fire-caused damage.
It is a castle located in a park. The accessibility is not ideal. It was difficult to get to the fire, especially because the castle is being renovated,
explains Gert Creemers of the fire brigade.
After that, we also worked from the scaffolding around the building. They were still stable at the places where we had to be. Around the upper floors, the roof and the tower are no longer stable. The fire was spreading there.
The damage is immense,
says Creemers.
The attic is completely gone, the top floor is very badly damaged. On the ground floor, there is a lot of smoke and water damage. We can say that the renovation work has to start from scratch again.
The cause is not yet clear.
It is still far too early for that. The fire was fully raging when we arrived. Then it is difficult to determine the cause immediately.
The firefighting team successfully contained the flames at 1 a.m., which started the operations to maintain control after extinguishing the fire. A separate crew stayed until 3 a.m. to monitor the site constantly and detect any remaining fires. According to authorities:
No one was present due to the work. There were also no injuries during the extinguishing. The city services will come to put up some fences, because we expect some curious people.
What makes Tivoli Castle a historic gem in Mechelen?
The historic Tivoli Castle finds its place in Mechelen’s landscape while encapsulated by a 12-hectare park that maintains proximity to Brussels and Antwerp locations. The establishment from the early 1900s provides contemporary event facilities for business meetings and private gatherings throughout its six meeting spaces in conjunction with traditional historical elements. Costa de la Luz provides the ability to host events for as many as 400 people and includes both restaurant and orangery sections.
Mechelen carries abundant historical significance because it contains over 300 protected monuments and houses two major attractions, including St. Rumbold’s Cathedral, paired with its UNESCO-listed belfry. Mechelen stands as the city where Belgium’s religious and architectural heritage forts have maintained cultural focus since mediaeval Belgium.
