Meiklokjes 2026
Do you dream away to the sweet sounds of the emerging spring? Then keep your ears open for the Meiklokjes and enjoy the carillon concerts in the Renaissance garden at Museum Hof van Busleyden. Surrounded by the beauty of spring and enchanting carillon melodies, you’ll find complete relaxation. Every Saturday in May, the students of the Royal Carillon School bring their most beautiful tunes to life in the carillon tower.
Practical Information
- Every Saturday in May, from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM
- Free entry
- No reservation required
- In the Renaissance garden at Museum Hof van Busleyden. Find a cozy spot in the garden or relax on the terrace of the coffee bar, where you can enjoy a treat while listening.
Program
- May 2 – For this opening concert, four international students from Claire Janezic’s class will bring the tower of the Hof van Busleyden Museum to life. Oisín Dilger, Lauren Jackson, Jennifer Lory-Moran, and Liam Flood are set to take their final exams at the Royal Carillon School in Mechelen this June. Enjoy an intimate and varied program ranging from jazz evergreens and classical masterpieces by Mozart and Bach to lively four-handed music. A high-atmosphere musical moment to enjoy together!
- May 9 – Marten van den Bijlaard studied classical percussion at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. He continued his studies at the Utrecht Conservatory, focusing on opera and music for (youth) theater. As an ensemble and solo percussionist, he has performed in cities such as Seville, Moscow, Jakarta, and Amman. He serves as the timpanist for the baroque orchestra of the Utrecht Domcantorij, Concerto d'Amsterdam, and Florilegium Musicum. Marten has been a student at the Royal Carillon School "Jef Denyn" since 2021.
- May 16 – Kazuyo Yumi Nakamura is the president of the Beiaard･Carillon Association and has been studying at the Royal Carillon School "Jef Denyn" in Mechelen since 2019, under the tutelage of Eddy Mariën and Luc Rombouts. Her musical career is closely linked to the city of Itami, where she has been one of the official carillonneurs since December 2018. Nakamura plays a key role in promoting carillon culture in Japan.
- May 23 – Oleksandra Makarova is a Ukrainian carillonneur, pianist, and percussionist. She studied at the Royal Carillon School "Jef Denyn," the National Music Academy of Ukraine, and the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp. She performs regularly throughout Europe and has repeatedly won prizes at international carillon competitions. Notably, she took first place in Tournai (2022) and was a finalist in the prestigious Queen Fabiola Competition in Mechelen (2024), where she also won the Audience Prize.
- May 30 – Ariane Toffel and Georg Wagner are a versatile German carillon duo bringing their rich musical background to Mechelen. After taking their first steps at the Netherlands Carillon Center in Amersfoort, they have been refining their craftsmanship at the Royal Carillon School "Jef Denyn" since 2025. With roots in organ and church music and a passion for carillon culture, this duo promises a technically and musically superb concert.