Herman Vanderpoorten Stadion
Lier, Belgium
AFAS-stadion Achter de Kazerne
Mechelen Belgium
AFAS-stadion Achter de Kazerne is located in the northern district of Mechelen, Belgium, and features an official all-seater capacity of 16,672. Serving as the historic home ground for KV Mechelen, a traditional competitor in the Belgian Pro League, this venue is unique for its modern, completely enclosed three-tier grandstands built on a site that has hosted top-tier Belgian football matches continuously since 1911.
Pieter-JanL, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Capacity
16.672
Stadium History
History of the Stadium
The football ground was inaugurated in 1911 when KV Mechelen secured the land to establish a permanent playing field for their domestic campaigns. The popular local name Achter de Kazerne translates directly to Behind the Barracks, referencing the military infantry barracks that stood adjacent to the southern boundary of the pitch during the twentieth century. The venue witnessed its most glorious era in the late 1980s when the resident club achieved monumental success in European football, culminating in winning the European Cup Winners Cup in 1988. Following decades of minor structural modifications, the club launched a comprehensive master plan in 2015 to completely rebuild the aging stands into a contemporary sporting arena.
Architecture & Design
The contemporary architecture features a fully enclosed rectangular bowl design that places spectators close to the playing surface. The structure is dominated by the massive new main stands which seamlessly combine spectator seating with corporate hospitality levels. The exterior uses modern metallic and glass panels, while the interior features a continuous roofline that angles downward toward the pitch, capturing and amplifying the vocal support of the home crowd to create an intimidating acoustic environment.
Major Renovations
A multi-phase redevelopment project began in 2015, transforming the look of the historic ground. The old main stand and the open terraces behind the goals were systematically demolished to make way for new multi-tiered concrete structures. These modern stands integrated commercial office spaces, fitness facilities, and premium skyboxes, drastically upgrading the matchday experience. The final phase successfully unified the corners of the stadium, replacing the traditional open-air gaps with continuous covered seating tiers that conform to modern UEFA regulations.
Location & Matchday Experience
The arena is situated within a dense residential neighborhood just north of the historic city center of Mechelen. This urban positioning creates an authentic matchday experience, as thousands of fans arrive on foot through narrow residential streets lined with brick houses. The integration into the local neighborhood means the matchday atmosphere spills directly into local life, creating an energetic and welcoming community-driven environment hours before the official kickoff time.
Origin of the Stadium Name
The commercial name of the arena comes from a corporate naming rights partnership with the software company AFAS Software. Despite this commercial designation, football fans, sports journalists, and local citizens consistently use the traditional name Achter de Kazerne, ensuring the historical connection to the former army barracks remains prominent in Belgian football culture.
Former Names & Rebranding
For over a century, the venue carried no commercial sponsor title and was known exclusively by its geographical designation. The first commercial rebranding occurred in the early 2010s under a brief partnership with Argos Oil, renaming the venue the Argosstadion Achter de Kazerne. This agreement was subsequently replaced by the current long-term partnership with AFAS Software, which maintained the traditional suffix to preserve the stadium historical heritage.
Capacity & Configuration
The current operational capacity stands at 16,672 for domestic matches in the Belgian Pro League. The stadium layout is divided across four interconnected main stands. The primary main stand houses the administrative offices, media facilities, and premium business seats. The stands behind the goals are configured to balance comfortable individual plastic seating with dedicated safe-standing rail seats designed to accommodate vocal home supporters during domestic league fixtures.
Records & Fun Facts
The stadium hosted its most famous matches during the European campaigns of 1988 and 1989, when KV Mechelen defeated major European clubs on their way to continental glory. The modern venue also functions as a multi-purpose community asset, featuring integrated banquet halls, corporate meeting spaces, and commercial facilities that operate independently of the weekend football calendar.
Who's play in AFAS-stadion Achter de Kazerne
How to get to AFAS-stadion Achter de Kazerne
The stadium is located approximately two kilometers north of the central Mechelen-Centraal railway station and is easily reached via public transport. Travelers can board De Lijn bus lines 1, 2, or 500 from the main station terminal, dropping passengers off at stops located within a five-minute walk of the stadium gates. For those arriving on foot, the walk from the historic Grote Markt takes approximately fifteen minutes through the city center. Drivers can approach via the N16 road from the E19 motorway, though public matchday parking immediately around the residential streets is strictly regulated, making the city center public parking garages the most reliable option for visitors.
Best seats, view and atmosphere
Spectators looking for a premium matchday experience with comfortable padded seats and a panoramic view of the action should book tickets in the central blocks of the main stand, which offers excellent modern amenities and shelter under the grandstand roof. Families and those seeking a more relaxed viewing experience will find excellent side-on views in the opposite grandstand running along the touchline. The most passionate and vocal atmosphere is found in the safe-standing sections behind the goal, where the local home supporters gather. Away fans are segregated in a specific corner section between the stands, which features dedicated turnstiles and independent food and beverage kiosks.
Where to eat and drink near AFAS-stadion Achter de Kazerne
The residential streets immediately surrounding the ground feature several traditional supporter pubs and mobile catering vans that open hours before kickoff. Popular local bars serve regional Belgian beers, with Gouden Carolus, which is brewed locally at the historic Brouwerij Het Anker in Mechelen, being a favorite selection among matchday fans. Outside the turnstiles, independent food vendors serve traditional Belgian fries with mayonnaise, hamburgers, and grilled sausages, allowing supporters to enjoy a classic pre-match meal in the neighborhood before heading to the gates.
Good to know
Security checks are standard at all electronic turnstiles, and visitors should arrive at least one hour before kickoff to avoid queues. The stadium operates on a cashless payment system for all food and drinks inside the concourses, meaning visitors must pay using standard bank cards or a dedicated club consumption card loaded with funds. Backpacks, large bags, bottles, and umbrellas are prohibited inside the arena, and no large storage facilities are available on site. For high-profile matches against major rivals, strict combi-regulation transport rules may apply to visiting supporters.
Fan Shop
The official KV Mechelen fanshop is located directly within the modern grandstand complex at the stadium site, accessible from the main external entrance plaza. The store opens on matchdays before and after the game, stocking the full range of official replica kits, team apparel, scarves, and club souvenirs. On non-matchdays, the shop operates during specific weekly retail hours managed by the club merchandise department.
FAQ
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