Haverwerf Historic Houses (Het Paradijske, De Duiveltjes, Sint-Jozef)

Also known as Haverwerf:
Originally oats were disembarked and traded here. Oats used to be synonymous with grain, and Mechelen has exclusive staple rights to it: grain boats must stop in Mechelen and offer the entire load for sale for three days. Only what is not sold in Mechelen, the dealers are allowed to recharge and further transport.
Look at the three remarkable houses near the bridge. They date from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and are the main attraction of the Haverwerf. The corner house is called Het Paradijske. The reliefs above the windows depict the scenes 'Earthly Paradise' and 'The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil'.
In the middle is De Duiveltjes, one of the most beautiful wooden facades in our country. It used to be called De Verloren Zoon, because that story is depicted above the entrance door. Now it is named after the devils that act as columns. On the left is the house of Saint Joseph, with the relief of Saint Joseph with the child Jesus in the center. Walk along the water and enjoy!

The oat wharf is a wonderful mix of historic and new Mechelen. The main attractions are the three historic houses. One from the seventeenth century and two from the sixteenth century. The oldest of these remarkable houses is “Het Paradijs”, which is the right house of the three. It has a late Gothic facade where several Early Renaissance features are visible. The middle house is now called “The Devils” but used to be known as the “Prodigal Son”. This beautiful Gothic house still has its original wooden facade. The third house, the "Sint-Jozef" is a century younger and built in the baroque style.

Originally, oats were unloaded and traded here. Oats used to be synonymous with grain, and Mechelen has exclusive stacking rights: grain boats must stop in Mechelen and offer the entire load for sale for three days. Only items that are not sold in Mechelen are allowed to be reloaded and transported by traders.

Look at the three remarkable houses near the bridge. They date from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and are the attraction of the Haverwerf. The corner house is called Het Paradijske. The reliefs above the windows depict the scenes 'The earthly paradise' and 'The tree of the knowledge of good and evil'.

In the middle is De Duiveltjes, one of the most beautiful wooden facades in our country. It used to be called The Prodigal Son, because that story is depicted above the entrance door. Now it is named after the devils that act as columns. On the left is the St. Joseph's house, with the relief of St. Joseph with the child Jesus in the center.