Mechelen

The AFAS-stadion Achter de Kazerne is the home of KV Mechelen, located at Kleine Nieuwedijk 53 in the city of Mechelen in Antwerp province. The stadium holds 16,672 spectators and takes its distinctive name from the former military barracks - "kazerne" in Dutch - that stood adjacent to the site. The ground has been modernised significantly in recent years, with improved facilities and infrastructure befitting a club with European heritage. Naming rights are held by AFAS, a Belgian software company, with the arrangement reflecting the club's renewed commercial ambitions.

KV Mechelen have a storied history within Belgian football, having won two league titles and, most memorably, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1988 - one of the proudest moments in Belgian club football history. That triumph over Ajax in the final cemented Mechelen's place in European football lore and gave the ground at Achter de Kazerne an enduring legacy. The club also won the European Super Cup that year, defeating PSV Eindhoven. However, financial difficulties and the notorious 1984 match-fixing scandal, which ultimately led to European bans, cast a shadow over parts of the club's history.

After years of turbulence and lower-division football, KV Mechelen rebuilt and returned to the top flight, bringing renewed energy and investment to the Achter de Kazerne stadium. The ground has been progressively upgraded and today offers a modern matchday experience in one of Belgium's most historic cities - Mechelen being a former capital of the Habsburg Netherlands and seat of the Archbishop of Mechelen. The club consistently attracts strong local support, and the stadium's location in the heart of the city makes it an easily accessible venue with a loyal and passionate following.