Accessible heritage in Flanders

Royal museum of Fine Arts Belgium (RMFA)

Museum room with three large paintings; one visitor sits on a bench, two others walk past.

From Flemish Masters in situ, to museums including KMSKA in Antwerp, M Museum in Leuven and The Mystic Lamb in St. Bavo's Cathedral in Ghent: Flanders is about heritage, and it lives and breathes art. We want to share it with everyone. On this page you will find practical accessibility information, heritage walks you can take at your pace and tips for a customised visit.

Flemish masters in Situ

Flanders is one of the cradles of the arts. Flemish Masters including Jan van Eyck, Pieter Bruegel and Peter Paul Rubens made art history here. This is where they lived and worked, drawing inspiration for their greatest masterpieces. Generations of artists like James Ensor continue to build on their legacy. The Flemish Master Tours take you past churches, cathedrals, monasteries, castles, town halls and abbeys where you can admire their world-class works in their authentic context. Many of these sites are accessible to visitors with specific care and comfort needs so that the heritage can be enjoyed by everyone. On the Flemish Masters in Situ website, you can find more information about the impressive 105 locations of the master tours, so you can plan your visit the best possible way.

Set off on a Flemish Master Tour

Two visitors with visual aids walk through a museum hall with stone arches and display cases.

Accessible heritage walks

Explore the historic centres of Ghent, Bruges, Mechelen and Leuven with these accessible heritage walks. Follow carefully marked out routes past highlights including St. Rumbold's tower in Mechelen, St. Bavo's Cathedral in Ghent or the Belfry in Bruges. The walking routes are level and easy to navigate; cobblestones and curved stones are avoided as much as possible. If there are cobblestones, they are usually flat and well laid. The walking brochures list accessible museums, attractions, cafes, restaurants, parking, public toilets and resources. All information has been checked by accessibility experts and experts by experience, so you can enjoy Flanders' historic heritage carefree and in complete confidence.

A woman in a blue jacket touches a bronze statue of a horse and rider in a park. The scene is overlaid with the text “Oooh!” in bold white letters.

9/09/2022

Bruges - Accessible for everyone

Every aspect of an accessible tourist visit to Bruges was mapped out in this brochure.

A man using a wheelchair moves along a flower-lined canal in a historic European city. Text: “Visit Ghent, Ghent, accessible to everyone.”

9/09/2022

“Ghent accessible for everyone”

VisitFlanders and Visit Gent worked together on a walking map and brochure “Ghent accessible for everyone”.

Three women joyfully examine a map in front of a historic building with spires and arches, promoting a cultural walking tour in Mechelen.

1/09/2022

Mechelen - Accessible for everyone

The brochure tells you what you will see along the way and at the back is a fold-out map of the route and the locations described.

Two men in wheelchairs happily conversing in a cobblestoned square with historic architecture. The poster text reads: “Leuven: Everyone welcome.”

9/09/2022

Leuven - everyone is welcome

Every aspect of an accessible tourist visit to Leuven was mapped out in this brochure.

Interactive heritage walks

Take an audio tour through the Burgundian Mechelen of 1473. Explore Ghent with a walking guide full of tactile relief photos and tactile plates of the main attractions (available from Visit Ghent) or opt for your smartphone, with audio descriptions and videos in Flemish Sign Language. In Mechelen, fictional guide Lucas Fayderbe takes you on the journey of 'Rubens in Stone'. Via WhatsApp, you can chat or video call with Lucas, who provides additional explanations and clear instructions in audio and video format while you're on the go. In the three churches, immersive images and sound clips bring to life the stories behind the works of art. Discover heritage your way.

Man in a wheelchair and a woman walk through a green ivy-covered garden, with a historic red brick building in the background.

Visit Mechelen

If walls could talk (Mechelen)

Interior of a white church with dome, tall columns and Baroque altar, seen from the nave with pews.

Eddy De Ron

Rubens in Stone (Museum Hof van Busleyden in Mechelen)

Woman pushes man in a wheelchair over a bridge past a medieval stone castle with flags; pedestrian on the left.

Kris Jacobs

City walk in Ghent with extra eyes and ears

Accessible museums and attractions

From KMSKA in Antwerp to M Museum in Leuven, the Mystic Lamb in St. Bavo's Cathedral in Ghent, and the Church of Our Lady in Bruges. Here you will find not only world-class masterpieces, but also a comfortable and hassle-free visit for all. Thanks to accessible entrances, lifts, wheelchair-friendly routes, assistance aids and adapted tours, you can experience these temples of art at your pace.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp

From the Flemish Primitives to the Expressionists, KSMKA is the home of 7 centuries of art excellence. Masterpieces by Peter Paul Rubens and James Ensor, among others, will leave you in awe. The KMSKA app also offers the room texts in Flemish Sign Language and International Sign. The museum organises customised tours for blind, visually impaired, deaf and hard of hearing visitors. People with autism or dementia can use special formulas to explore the museum. The recently renovated building is suitable for wheelchairs on all floors, and you will find gender-neutral and accessible toilets throughout. There are adapted parking spaces nearby for people with disabilities.

Visit the KMSKA

The imposing facade of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp.

Karin Borghouts

The Mystic Lamb in St. Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent

The Mystic Lamb is one of the most important masterpieces in European art history. You can discover the 'Ghent Altarpiece' at the visitor's centre in St. Bavo's Cathedral All floors of the cathedral are easily accessible with a lift. In the cathedral's crypt, discover the eventful history of the Mystic Lamb with Augmented Reality glasses. For people with visual impairments, there are adapted glasses with audio descriptions, a tactile model of the cathedral and a relief version of the central panel of this masterpiece. Deaf and hard of hearing visitors can take the tours in sign language.

Visit the Mystic Lamb in St. Bavo's Cathedral

Visitors admire The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb by the Van Eyck brothers in St. Bavo’s Cathedral in Ghent. The scene radiates awe and reverence.

Church of Our Lady, Bruges

In the Gothic Church of Our Lady in Bruges, you will discover a rich art collection of paintings and Burgundian mausoleums with Michelangelo's world-famous statue 'Madonna and Child' as the centrepiece. For people with visual impairments, there is a tactile model of the masterpiece by Michelangelo. Following several alterations, the church is now more accessible to all. Wheelchair users can enter the church via a ramp. You can park next to the church in the reserved parking spaces for people with disabilities.

Visit the Church of Our Lady

Visitors sit and talk on benches in a church with a large altar and statues in the background.

Sien Verstraeten

Museum Hof van Busleyden, Mechelen

The Hof van Busleyden is a magnificent city palace in the heart of Mechelen. It brings back to life the rich history of the Burgundians. The museum combines historic charm with modern and accessible facilities. It offers lifts, accessible passageways and adapted toilets. Visitors with limited mobility can access all exhibition areas. Individuals who are sensitive to stimuli can visit the Hof van Busleyden during 'Silent Visit' times. For the visually impaired, there are tactile elements and audio descriptions. Deaf and hard of hearing visitors can use written explanations and/or multimedia guides. Staff are on hand to provide assistance as needed.

Visit Museum Hof Van Busleyden

Stadspaleis en tuinen (c) Sophie Nuytten - Museum Hof van Busleyden

Historic building with red brick facade and ornate tower under a bright blue sky with fluffy clouds. A serene atmosphere with a spacious courtyard.

M Leuven and St. Peter's Church, Leuven

M Leuven is a museum and platform for the visual arts. It connects past and present, art disciplines and society. Nearby is the imposing St. Peter's Church. Here you will discover 'The Last Supper', the masterpiece by Flemish Master Dieric Bouts. Both the museum and the church are easily accessible to wheelchair users. For people with visual impairments, M offers guided tours, audio descriptions and accompaniment to and from the museum. There is also a visual step-by-step plan for visitors with autism and a low-stimulus or dementia-friendly tour. Visitors can borrow free wheelchairs or folding chairs to rest during the visit. Via the museum app, discover the exhibitions at your own pace.

Visit M Leuven and St. Peter's Church

Rooftop terrace with people, including wheelchair users, overlooking the city and a tall tower under a blue sky.

Kris Jacobs

Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, Brussels

The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium (KMSKB) are a collection of world-class museums in bustling Brussels. Discover the superb art collection from the 15th century to the present day, with masterpieces by Bruegel, Rubens and Ensor, among others. There is an alternate accessible entrance for visitors with physical disabilities. There are adapted parking spaces for people with reduced mobility. The 'Made to Measure' programme allows deaf, hard of hearing, blind and visually impaired visitors and people with mental or physical disabilities to experience art through guided tours.

Visit the KMSKB

Workshop Flemish Masters - KMSKB, Brussels - January 29, 2018 26

Grand hall with ornate arches and marble columns, featuring a skylit ceiling. A plush gray sofa with a draped cloth sits in the foreground.

Accessibility finder

There are 1001 outstanding heritage sites to discover in Flanders. But how accessible are they? The accessibility finder tells you right away. Search for the name of a museum, heritage landmark or other attraction and you will instantly get all the relevant information about how accessible the site is.

Go to the Accessibility finder