Tips for a day trip
Day trip in Flanders and Brussels? The new info pack “Accessible day trips” (pdf-format) may be inspirational. There are the old tried and tested favourites, but maybe also a few surprising discoveries.
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.
Carefree on the beach
From July 1st until August 31st you can easily find help to enjoy the beach in several Flemish coastal towns. Apart from personal assistance, sanitation and support facilities (such as beach wheelchairs) are also available onsite. De Haan, Middelkerke, Nieuwpoort, Ostend, Vosseslag, Wenduine, Westende and Zeebrugge make extra efforts towards a fully accessible beach environment.
Assistance is daily available between 10.30 a.m. and 6.30 p.m.. For further details about accessibility on the Flemish coast, download the flyer here (pdf-format).
Brussels
The organisation Indivo presents a tour called "Brussel op Wieltjes", which takes a route around the Grand Place, and is accessible for wheelchair users with a helper. Now there are also itineraries around the Sablon and the Marolles district. You can download the available tours from www.indivo.be.
Available in Dutch.
You can find out even more about our capital on www.brusselandersbekeken.be. Non-profit organisation vzw Gehandicapten en Solidariteit describes some real unmissable things to do on an accessible trip to Brussels. There are suggestions about transport, activities, eating and drinking. The website is available in Dutch, and a French-language version is in production. The information also exists in brochure form: "Brussel anders bekeken” (A different angle on Brussels”). Find out more from: Steden anders bekeken; Brussel inclusief - Gehandicapten en Solidariteit - Zuidstraat 111 - 1000 Brussels - tel. +32 2 546 15 91 – e-mail nfgz-at-skynet.be.
In Brussels and looking for something to do? “Loisirs des personnes handicapées” (Leisure activities for people with disabilities) offers inspiration: there is a wide range of tourist sights, hobbies and leisure activities. In the printed brochure, you can search for activities depending on the type of disability or using a keyword. The guide is available free from: IDJ asbl – rue au Bois 11 – 1150 Brussels – tel.: +32(0)2 772 70 20 - fax: +32(0)2 772 72 09 - e-mail: idj-at-idj.be. If you visit the website www.idj.be, click on Loisirs des personnes handicapées to consult the same information in a database. Both the printed guide and the website are available in French.
"Brussels for all" gives 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.
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.
Museums for Art and History
The Royal Museums for Art and History (KMKG) comprise various museums
located in Brussels, including the Cinquantenaire Museum and the Horta-Lambeaux pavilion, Porte de Hal, the Japanese Tower, the Chinese Pavilion and the Musical Instrument Museum.
The KMKG organise exhibitions in the Museum for Blind People in the Cinquantenaire Museum specially designed for blind and sight-impaired people. They have the exceptional privilege of being able to feel the exhibits. Also in some collections a selection of objects can be touched.
For safety reasons, this can only be done when accompanied by a guide. For these tours, reservations should be made well in advance. When each exhibition appears, a voice catalogue is published, also available in large print and digital edition.
In the Musical Instruments Museum (MIM) disabled visitors can discover the instruments from the collection all year round. They can do this on their own or with the help of a guide, The MIM also organises museum workshops and workshops for the disabled. These activities have been specifically developed and adapted in function of the participants’ disability. The guides supervising these activities have, apart from their background in music, have extensive experience with working with disabled people.
An online catalogue with more than 80 masterpieces can be viewed on the KMKG website.
Info: tel Cinquantenaire Museum: +32 2 741 72 14 - e-mail: ECD-at-kmkg-mrah.be - web site: www.kmkg-mrah.be.
MIM: tel: +32 2 545 01 53 or +32 2 545 01 33 - e-mail: seed-at-mim.fgov.be - web site: www.mim.fgov.be.
Information available in Dutch and French.
Giddy up
Fancy a day out in a horse-drawn carriage through the beautiful Flemish Ardennes? Wheelchair users can come along too. ‘Koetsen Verdonckt’ (Carriages Verdonckt) offers rides for groups of 16 to 24 people. The carriage is accessible by wheelchair. If you’d rather take the reins yourself you can sign up for an introductory pony-trap course (the wagon has room for a wheelchair). The carriage museum is an absolute must if you want to really immerse yourself in this world, and – you've guessed it – there's access for wheelchair users.
Johan Verdonckt, Rubberigtsbank 39, 9681 Maarkedal, tel : +32 (0)55 21 87 17, mobile: +32 (0)484 40 43 21, e-mail: koetsen.verdonckt-at-telenet.be, website: www.koetsen-verdonckt.be.
Information available in Dutch.
Feel like exploring the waters of Flanders?
From one river bank to the other: crossing is so much more pleasant by ferry than via an ordinary bridge. No wonder scores of people opt for this means of transport, both for living and working as well as pleasure boating.Do you feel like exploring the ‘quiet waters’ of Flanders in this special manner? If so, have a look at the web site http://home.scarlet.be/hermanjanssens. Herman is one of the experts who has started to chart the accessibility of this ferry for cyclists and foot passengers. He has published the results temporarily on a personal web site with a view to further consideration of this subject. At present, it is mainly crossings in the province of Antwerp which are covered. The web site gives clear and realistic information which all wheelchair users or blind or visually impaired passengers will find useful. The chapter entitled Guidelines shows which points for attention have been considered. So have a close look at the information before exloring the waters of Flanders!The web site is in Dutch.
The coast side
Whether you are just having a day out with your cool box or want to stay longer, the information brochure 'Beaches and coastal towns' (PDF file) produced by the Accessible Travel Info Point gives you lots of useful tips. Get your sun cream lotion ready!
Peace monument
Starting this year, people have been able to pay a "virtual" visit to the IJzertoren (Yser Tower), which forms part of the UN network of peace museums. A scale model of the Tower and vicinity is available for the visually impaired. A short film, with Dutch, French and Germany subtitles, takes you back in time to the First World War. Recommendations are also available for accessible day trips in the area. For further details please visit the following address www.ijzertoren.org (website in Dutch, English, French and German).
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.
All creatures great and small
Visitors to the Antwerp Zoo, Planckendael Animal Park in Mechelen and the Antwerp giant aquarium Aquatopia can now borrow a wheelchair on the spot. At all three attractions, use of a wheelchair is free.
Planckendael asks for at least three days' notice to reserve. This can be done by phone on +32(0)15 41 49 21 or online via the website
www.planckendael.be/content.asp?pid=47&parid=7&mid=7&c=-47-(available in Dutch and French).
The Antwerp Zoo recommends that you reserve three days in advance via phone number +32(0)3 202 45 40 or online via www.zooantwerpen.be/content.asp?pid=83&parid=79&mid=74&c=-79--83-. The site is available in Dutch and French. A free leaflet is available at the main entrance or can be requested by phoning: +32(0)70 23 33 54.
Aquatopia has 1 wheelchair. Information about availability can be obtained by phoning +32(0)3 203 13 07.
Plants plan
The Belgian National Botanic Garden in Meise always offers its visitors a map of its gardens. Visitors with a disability also receive a special brochure. This gives an overview of the positive and negative facilities for people with a motor, auditive or visual disability. The brochure is in three languages: Dutch, French and English and is available at the cash desk of the Belgian National Botanic Garden, Domein van Bouchout, 1860 Meise.
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.
Fagnes – Eifel
The natural park Fagnes-Eifel extends over the territory of more than 20 Belgian and German towns. A comprehensive website gives information on the accessibility of places of interest and activities for visitors with a disability. On the website www.eifel-barrierefrei.de you can with one click on the pictogram for your disability see all facilities or check what is available in each town for people with different disabilities.
The brochure “Eifel barrierefrei” can be ordered from Naturpark Nordeifel im Deutsch-Belgischen Naturpark, Steinfelder Str. 8, D-53947 Nettersheim, e-mail: info-at-naturpark-eifel.de or can be downloaded in PDF-format at www.eifel-barrierefrei.de/data/broschuere_barrierefrei.pdf.
Information available in German.
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.: +32 2 504 03 97, fax: +32 2 504 04 05
e-mail: vakantieparticipatie-at-toerismevlaanderen.be
