'Accessible Transport' info package

To travel, you need to be able to move, on land, across the sea, or in the air. Accessible Travel Infopoint has collected practical information for passengers on short and long journeys. Click here for the package in pdf format.

Parking badge
Will you be using a car? Do not forget your blue parking badge for people with a disability. The European version (with a passport photograph) gives you the right to park in reserved spaces in all European Union countries and some other countries, too. Note: this does not mean that you can park everywhere for an unlimited period and/or free of charge. See www.internationaltransportforum.org/europe/ecmt/accessibility/parking.html for a European summary. Information is available in English.

Parking on the coast

The European parking card for people with disabilities (blue, with a photograph) is valid in all EU Member States, so it can be used in Belgium as well. Cardholders are entitled to park in spaces reserved for the disabled, or enjoy free and/or unlimited parking facilities, when the local authorities have provided such a system. The parking regulations may differ considerably from one area to another.

Below is a list of Flemish coastal municipalities, plus information to show where cardholders have to pay for the parking facilities or otherwise. A comprehensive review of all Belgium municipalities is provided on the Ministry of Social Security website. Direct link to the document: http://handicap.fgov.be/docs/overzicht_gemeenten_nl.doc (In Dutch)

http://handicap.fgov.be/docs/overzicht_gemeenten_fr.doc (In French)

(last update: 01/07/2009)

 (*) The blue parking badge does not grant permission to park in dedicated zones for inhabitants ("Bewoners")

You are flying, aren’t you?

For many destinations the airplane is the most suitable means of transport. All kinds of handy tips for travellers with an impediment or a disability are gathered on the website of the Belgian national airport of Zaventem: www.brusselsairport.be/en/airportinfo/special-care/reduced-mobility.

Available in Dutch, French and English.

De Lijn - free monitor

A person with disabilities who has a monitor card can be accompanied free of charge

by a fellow citizen on their travels on buses or trams operated by De Lijn.

People with mental disabilities or visual impairment, restricted limb mobility or

or with uncoordinated movements, which make travelling alone by tram or

bus difficult, can apply for a monitor card.  

You can apply for the card with the season ticket service of De Lijn in your province. A medical certificate stating the degree of disability or impairment and a copy of your identity card must be joined to your application.

Info: De Lijn +32 (0)70 220 200 - website: www.delijn.be.

web site: www.delijn.be

Available in Dutch.

The season ticket service in every province:

De Lijn Antwerpen, Grote Hondstraat 58, 2018 Antwerpen

Tel: +32 (0)3 218 15 61

De Lijn Limburg, Grote Breemstraat 4, 3500 Hasselt

Tel: +32 (0)11 850 300

De Lijn Oost-Vlaanderen, Brusselsesteenweg 361, 9050 Gentbrugge

Tel: +32 (0)9 210 93 43

De Lijn Vlaams-Brabant, Martenlarenplein 19, 3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 (0)16 31 37 20

De Lijn West-Vlaanderen, Nieuwpoortsesteenweg 110, 8400 Oostende

Tel: +32 (0)59 56 52 31

More mobile than you think

An overview of the transport services offered in Flanders for mobility impaired persons can be found, together will all contact details at this website: www.odav.be. The site is available in Dutch

By train

The brochure "Service for mobility impaired persons" presents the service for mobility impaired persons and contains a detailed list of stations with all amenities for travellers with reduced mobility.
This brochure is available in English, French, Dutch and German, in the stations and on the website www.sncb.be. Would you like to receive this brochure in braille? Mail to Braille-at-sncb.be

Info & reservation of the service for mobility impaired persons:

Centrale Klantendienst - Dienstverlening aan personen met beperkte mobiliteit B-MO 062 -Sectie 13/6 - Hallepoortlaan 40 - 1060 Brussel 
Tel. +32 2 528 28 28

Fax : +32 2 528 21 39
Mail : service.clients-at-sncb.be
Website : www.sncb.be (information in Dutch, French, German and English)

Buses etc.

The Federation of Belgian Bus and Coach Businesses (FBAA) offers a list of bus companies that have specially-equipped buses and coaches.  If you are looking for a lift-bus, surf to www.fbaa.be and click on the bus with a wheelchair (in Voortuigen or Vehicles, the figure at the top left).  You can fine-tune the result by searching per province.

Available in Dutch and French.

Taxi Hendriks

A taxi firm that offers optimal travel comfort and adapted transport for people with disabilities.

Taxi Hendriks has 115 accessible cars and 4 branches in Flanders, Hainaut,

Brussels and Antwerp.

Hendriks Autocars (bus company) disposes of luxury lift cars in different sizes.

- Melsbroek: Perksesteenweg 35D, 1820 Melsbroek

tel: +32 (0)2 752 98 00 - fax: +32 (0)2 752 98 01 - e-mail: info.melsbroek-at-hendriks.be

- Overpelt: Leopoldlaan 44, 3900 Overpelt - tel: +32 (0)11 80 98 98 - e-mail: info-at-hendriks.be

- Gent: Brugsesteenweg 606-608, 9000 Gent

tel: +32 (0)9 216 80 20 – fax: +32 (0)9 216 80 21 - e-mail: info.gent-at-hendriks.be

- Antwerpen: Prins Boudewijnlaan 9, Unit 2, 2550 Kontich.

tel: +32 (0)3 286 44 40 – fax: +32 (0)3 286 44 41 – e-mail: info.antwerpen-at-hendriks.be

web site: www.hendriks.be

Available in Dutch and French.

info.melsbroek-at-hendriks.be

Taxi Peters

Taxi Peters is a family business offering special services such as wheelchair accessible taxis, etc for disabled persons and persons of limited mobility. The company is located in Genk and Zonhoven (Belgian Limburg), offers wheelchair accessible minibuses which can transport up to 7 wheelchair users at the same time. Tel. +32 (0)475 30 62 91, e-mail taxi.peters-at-pandora.be. Website www.taxipeters.be.

Available in Dutch, French, English and German.

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/klwillebroek.htm. 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.

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.

Accessible Nieuwpoort

For a number of years now, the Municipal Advisory Board for People with Disabilities has been producing an annual brochure called “Toegankelijk Nieuwpoort” (Accessible Nieuwpoort).  It shows all the public services available, parking spaces, hotels, restaurants and cafés (with adapted toilet) and shops that are accessible to wheelchair users.  A new feature this year is that 25 hotels, restaurants and cafés which have a menu written in braille and in large type for people with impaired sight.

The four “beachcombers” (standing wheelchairs) are also featured in the brochure.  This brochure is available free of charge at the tourist office of the town of Nieuwpoort, and can be consulted on the website www.nieuwpoort.be. Click on the wheelchair icon at the top of the screen.

Info available in Dutch.

Maesss Motorhomes
Manufacturer Maesss Motorhomes NV is expanding its range with a motor home for travellers with a physical disability. The company has distributors in various European countries.
What’s special about this vehicle is that it is not a rebuilt standard model: this motor home has been designed from scratch to meet the basic needs of wheelchair users. It is also possible to further adapt the vehicle to the personal wishes and needs of the user.
More info: Maesss Motorhomes NV - Steenbrugstraat 114 – 8530 Harelbeke-Stasegem – tel: +32 (0)56 22 51 – info-at-maesss.be – www.maesss.be. Information available in Dutch, German, English and French.