Accessibility label
Since the beginning of 2008 Flanders has had a regulated label for accessible tourism. At the moment only holiday accommodation can acquire a label. But the collection is already looking good! The assessments are based on objective on site research. The full descriptions are available at “Accessible Flanders” (see below). Here your can read all about our label, and consult a list of accessible accommodation.
Accessible Flanders
On www.toevla.be, you will find information about the accessibility of buildings such as hotels, holiday centres, museums, cultural centres, sports centres, town halls and schools as well as cycle paths, footpaths and other tourist amenities. These are objective measured data, including some collected on behalf of Toerisme Vlaanderen.
The website has various search options, which means that you can quickly obtain information adapted to your own limitations and needs. Info available in English, Dutch, French and German.
Autonomia
An impressive website about everything that’s going on in the disabled world (especially in French-speaking Belgium). Visit http://wal.autonomia.org. This approach is obviously broader than accessible tourism, but the sections on accommodation, free time, transport and general tourism are very comprehensive. The information is available in French.
Passe-partout for Wallonia
With a ‘passe-partout' key you can open all doors. The “indice passe-partout” from Gamah asbl is especially useful because you can find out which buildings are accessible. The Gamah association from Namur carries out objective information-gathering sessions on buildings and finds out about their accessibility. On www.ipp-online.org/recherche/recherche.php every building first gets a score between 0 and 10 for various types of visitors: wheelchair users (with or without assistance), people who have difficulty walking, or have a mental or visual disability, and deaf and hearing-impaired visitors. Then a pdf document offers a thorough illustrated review. The database contains the results on all kinds of public buildings, and a good selection of touristy places, in French-speaking Belgium. All information is available in French.
Schelde, Dender, Rupel
Between the Flemish Ardennes and the Antwerp Kempen and between the Green Belt and the Waasland lies the Scheldeland. It is a tourist region with a great deal to offer. Organised packages, which are also suitable for disabled people, are bundled together in a 15-page leaflet. Accommodation, attractions, bike or boat trips, horeca, etc. There are specific recommendations for wheelchair users and visitors with impaired vision. You’ll find this publication on the website www.scheldeland.be or directly via this link: www.scheldeland.be/scheldeland/uitmethandicap.aspx.
Information available in Dutch.
Holiday accommodation in Flanders
Accommodation that is (at least) ‘accessible with assistance’ for wheelchair users. Download the list here!
The Accessible Travel Info Point regularly receives requests about the accessibility for wheelchair users of holiday accommodation. Often a folder or a list with suggestions is requested. To meet this demand we have put together a folder “Accessible Accommodation in Flanders”. This brochure contains the addresses known by the Accessible Travel Info Point as being (at least) accessible for wheelchair users with assistance. If there are facilities available for hearing or visually impaired persons, or for asthma and allergy patients this information is also mentioned. Careful: please carefully read the introductory page of this document!
At the seaside
Under the motto "Tourism for All", the seaside website proposes a number of places offering accommodation. This holiday accommodation is aimed particularly at families, people with disabilities and senior citizens. Click on the search form and per seaside resort, you can see a list of the accommodation and accessibility. Website: www.dekust.org/dekust/logies.aspx?id=6168. Be sure to check out our brochure about the accessible beaches and coastal towns, too!
Info available in English, Dutch, French and German.
Brussels
The organisation ANLH (Association Nationale pour le Logement des personnes Handicapées) is in the process of surveying the degree of accessibility if a few hundred buildings. The results of this investigation can be found on www.anlh.be/?view=rubl&id=74. The investigation is mainly done from a tourist angle, but also includes schools and prisons. The search engine offers the user option to select what applies to him. This way looking for a suitable building is a lot faster.
Available in French.
Information on accessibility of hotels, restaurants, parking places, public toilets, recreation, culture and transport in Brussels. The composers have based themselves on international standards and the symbols linked thereto. Information: AMT, A. Renoirstraat 5/4, 1140 Evere, phone number: +32(0)2-705 03 48, e-mail: info-at-brusselvoorallen.be or magmaybe-at-hotmail.com.
Website: www.brusselvoorallen.be, available in English, Dutch and French.
Centres for social tourism
Under the banner of Tourism for All, we mostly find centres that are dedicated to holidays for
young people, families and senior citizens. Often, they have special facilities for
people with disabilities. A list of all centres for social tourism in Flanders can be
obtained from Toerisme Vlaanderen.
Info: Toerisme Vlaanderen, Grasmarkt 61-63, 1000 Brussel
tel: +32 2 504 03 00 - fax: +32 2 504 03 77 - e-mail: info-at-toerismevlaanderen.be
web site: www.visitflanders.com
Available in Dutch.
Steunpunt Vakantieparticipatie (Holiday Participation Support Point)
Not only physical restrictions but also financial barriers can prevent an enjoyable holiday.
The Holiday Participation Support Point set up in 2001 within Toerisme Vlaanderen - works with holidaymakers, associations and the tourism sector on a policy for holidays for people on low incomes and their children. Organisations that arrange holidays for people with low incomes are eligible for a financial grant.
As a holidaymaker, you can contact the support point for information about affordable holidays.
Info: Toerisme Vlaanderen, Steunpunt Vakantieparticipatie, Grasmarkt 61, 1000 Brussel, tel.: 02-504 03 97, fax: 02-504 04 05
e-mail: vakantieparticipatie-at-toerismevlaanderen.be
website: www.vakantieparticipatie.be
