Accessible tours in Flanders and Brussels tailored to your needs Last update: June 2015 Grasmarkt 61 1000 Brussels - Belgium Tel +32 3 504 03 40 [email protected] www.accessibleflanders.be 1 Table of contents BRUSSELS................................................................................................................................................. 5 PROVINCE OF ANTWERP ........................................................................................................................ 7 PROVINCE OF LIMBURG........................................................................................................................ 14 PROVINCE OF EAST-FLANDERS ............................................................................................................. 19 PROVINCE OF FLEMISH-BRABANT ........................................................................................................ 29 PROVINCE OF WEST-FLANDERS ............................................................................................................ 35 Bruges ................................................................................................................................................ 35 Westhoek .......................................................................................................................................... 35 Coast .................................................................................................................................................. 37 Other ................................................................................................................................................. 41 2 INTRODUCTION Did you know that Flanders is a walking and cycling paradise? This is also true for cycling and walking enthusiasts who need certain adjustments or extra facilities along the way. Discover the loveliest walks or cycling routes tailored to your needs in this brochure. It offers an overview of the accessible walking and cycling activities in Flanders and Brussels. Although our information is far from complete, we hope we will be able to inspire you… For whom? Most of the information in this pack is primarily aimed at people with a physical disability. People with physical disabilities often need adjustments to make their walking or cycling experience more smoothly. But we do include initiatives that offer extra facilities for other types of impairment as well. Whether or not something is accessible, varies greatly from one person to the next. Every disability or impairment is different. We recommend that you always get in touch with the places mentioned in advance so as to get a concrete idea of what to expect. What and how? Not all the initiatives that call themselves accessible are included in this brochure. Our information is always based on objective expert research, i.e. on the positive experiences of visitors with a disability. Some journeys have also been tested by our staff. More info? Eager to learn more about the walking and cycling possibilities Flanders has to offer in general? Navigate to www.visitflanders.com. If you have questions on the accessibility of the initiatives mentioned in this brochure, get in touch with us. You can also share your experiences with other travelers by sending us an e-mail with your tips. 3 GENERAL Natuurpunt Coxiestraat 11 2800 Mechelen Telephone: 32 15 29 27 81 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.natuurpunt.be/rolstoelgebruikers Natuurpunt makes its nature areas in Flanders accessible for wheelchair users wherever possible. Walking routes, but also some bird watching shelters have been adapted. In total, you can choose from 15 footpaths adapted for wheelchair users. In one nature park (Landschap De Liereman in Oud-Turnhout) the sand paths are not suitable for wheelchairs, but a wombat cross- country wheelchair is available. An extensive overview (in Dutch) of the accessible paths and bird watching shelters can be found at: www.natuurpunt.be/rolstoelgebruikers. Click on the wheelchair symbol on the interactive maps to get an overview of the accessible walkways. 4 BRUSSELS 1. General Almagic Mimosalaan 7 1150 Brussels Telephone: +32 499 22 6868 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.almagic.org Almagic rents out 4 electric scooters and all kinds of adapted bikes (wheelchair bikes, hand bikes, tandems, tricycles, joëlettes…) Prices are the same as the rental prices of Provelo (www.provelo.org). You can rent for a maximum of 2 weeks. 2. Accessible walking and cycling trails Use-It (Wheelchair map) Steenkoolkaai 9B 1000 Brussels E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.rolstoelplanbrussel.be Brussels has a bad reputation when it comes to wheelchairs. To remedy this, youth travel agency Use-It has designed a free city map of Brussels specifically for young wheelchair users (available in Dutch and French), in cooperation with VFG. The map really is tailored to your needs and fits on your lap so you can keep your hands free when operating your wheelchair. This successful service gives you special insider tips provided by wheelchair users from Brussels who know what youngsters are interested in. One of our golden tips: bring an extra cushion to soften the ride on those typical cobblestones! For a map, send a mail to: [email protected]. 5 6 PROVINCE OF ANTWERP 1. Organized biking excursions KVG cycling group Stenenbrug 96 2140 Antwerp Telephone: +32 476 92 42 12 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.kvg.be KVG Antwerp (Katholieke Vereniging Gehandicapten, Catholic association of the disabled) organises bicycle trips for people with and without a disability. There is always a choice between a long trip (45km) or a shorter trip (20km). You can use normal bikes, wheelchair bikes, tandems, hand bikes, tricycles,… www.milo-profi.be 2. Accessible walking and cycling routes Town walk Geel Markt 1 2240 Geel Telephone: +32 14 56 63 80 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.geel.be/product.aspx?id=2319 The was developed by Tourism Geel in cooperation with the Tourist Information Office and the federation of guides in Geel and takes you to the most beautiful places and monuments of the City of Charity. The walk is indicated by brass signposting nails and starts at the Tourism house De Waag on the Market square. The walk is suitable for wheelchair users. The accompanying brochure of the walk is available at Tourism Geel, Markt 1, 2440 Geel and costs 2,5 euro a piece. 7 Provincial Green domain ‘De Averegten’ Boonmarkt 12 2220 Heist-op-den-Berg Telephone: +32 15 24 89 47 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.averegten.be Out of the various walking trails, the green route (3.5 km) has been especially created for people using a wheelchair, prams and pushchairs, and for joggers. After some rain this sealed trail will still stay useable. This route is for pedestrians only. The Blokhut has two accessible toilets. A number of picnic benches have been modified so that people in wheelchairs can also comfortably sit at the table. The modified swing in the playground also provides safe playing opportunities for children who have handicaps. A visit to the plant gardens is also certainly worthwhile. This garden is pleasant and easily accessible to wheelchairs. The sealed tracks (dolomite) are easy to ride on and well sign posted. Parking with a sticker can be done in the car park next to the garden. (Boonmarkt 12). This car park is located 50 metres from the Het Boshuis tavern. According to the Tourism Information Centre, the tavern is accessible every day during school holidays from 12:00. Outside of the school holidays, you can visit here from Wednesdays to and including Sundays. It is completely accessible for people in a wheelchair. The Averegten is accessible from sunrise until sunset. Dogs are allowed on a lead. Provincial Recreational Domain De Schorre Schommelei 1 bus 1 2850 Boom Telephone: +32 3 880 76 00 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.deschorre.be Discover beautiful scenery while walking, cycling, come play minigolf or rent a pedalo and enjoy a deserved break on the terrace of the brasserie. Children can play in the indoor and outdoor playground. You can also play active sports here (climbing, mountain boarding, hang gliding, paragliding, kayak polo, ...). There are hiking and cycling trails around and through the area, and you can borrow bikes at the reception desk. There is adapted parking space, many trails are paved, there are adapted restrooms and there is an adapted outdoor playground that is accessible to every child. Accessible bike loops Province of Antwerp Boomgaardstraat 22 B 101 2600 Antwerp Telephone: +32 3 240 61 61 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.provincieantwerpen.be 8 Four pretty and fully accessible bike loops have been mapped out in the province of Antwerp, three near the Antwerp Camine region and one in Scheldeland. Not only the cycle routes themselves were considered, but also accessible sights and hospitality addresses (with or without adapted toilets) in the vicinity of the routes were added. The result is a nice package, with cycle routes making a loop, starting and finishing at accessible lodging. In this way, people with reduced mobility can use them for a nice weekend or short break. The routes are accessible for hand bikers, but people who are easily fatigued, parents with bicycle trailers and tandem cyclists can also benefit. The bike loops and the tourist info with concise accessibility information