Amanda and Charlie explore Mechelen, Limburg, and the Brussels suburbs

An accessible trip through Flanders

In autumn 2026, we welcomed a number of travellers with disabilities to Flanders. They talked about their accessible trip to Flanders on their socials, and were the first to try out the Selfie for All spots. These tactile paving tiles help blind and visually impaired people excellently position themselves for the perfect selfie. In this article, you can read more about Amanda and her guide dog Charlie’s visit to Mechelen, the province of Limburg, and the Brussels suburbs.

Who is Amanda?

@charlie.guide
Switzerland
Top athlete with a (visual) impairment
Advocate for people with disabilities
Inseparable from her guide dog/TikTok star Charlie
Taking part together in bikejoring and dogsled races on mountain bikes

Wonderful stories and the perfect selfie in Mechelen

Amanda and Charlie are starting their Flanders adventure in Mechelen with their ears wide open. The ‘If Walls Could Talk’ audio walk takes them back to Mechelen in 1473. Drawing on numerous stories from the Burgundian era, they make their way through the historic town. The tour starts and ends at the iconic Grote Markt. Everyone’s now posing for the perfect selfie there, thanks to Selfie for All. That’s the name of the tactile tiles you can now find in all sorts of lovely spots across Flanders. These tiles are designed to assist blind and visually impaired visitors. It shows you how to stand and how to hold your smartphone to take the perfect selfie.

Exploring Flanders accessible selfie spots

Woman takes a selfie with a greyhound on her lap, sitting on gravel by green shrubs.

A stroll through the ancient abbey grounds of Herkenrode

Amanda and Charlie don’t like sitting still. That is why they travelled straight on to Hasselt, the beating heart of Limburg. It’s a place brimming with heritage, nature, and opportunities for cycling and walking. First, the pair explored Herkenrode Abbey, a place where you can stroll through 800 years of history. Today, you can stroll amongst the ruins of that former monastery, but you’ll also discover Clausura, an immense steel sculpture serving as a reincarnation of the church that burnt down here 200 years ago. It’s a lovely day out for everyone: the grounds are wheelchair-friendly, and carers accompanying people with a European Disability Card can enter free of charge. That way, everyone can enjoy this special place.

Enjoy an accessible visit to Herkenrode Abbey

Belgian chocolate: delicious heritage at Chocoladehuis Boon

Heritage can be a real treat too, can’t it? In Flanders, you simply can’t ignore Belgian chocolate. This iconic treat is world-famous, and Chocoladehuis Boon in Hasselt is a proud ambassador for it. Here, you can smell, experience, and taste our passion for chocolate. You’ll learn more about this delicious product, but there’s more to it than just tasting it. Amanda likes to roll up her sleeves and get stuck in. She made her own chocolate bar during an engaging workshop. Tasty and educational!

Come and taste and/or try it for yourself at Chocoladehuis Boon

Adventures in the Hoge Kempen National Park

Limburg is a natural paradise. Take the Hoge Kempen National Park, for example. Amanda and Charlie explored that lush park starting from the Lieteberg entrance. That’s where you can hang your shoes on the hook before setting off on a walk along the Barefoot Trail. There, they discovered the unique sensations of grass, wood shavings, stone, clay, water, and mud. In the Butterfly Garden, they wandered amongst colourful fluttering creatures, whilst Biodrome immersed them in the biodiversity of this national park. These adventures are made as accessible as possible. Biodrome accommodates wheelchairs and the Barefoot Trail also welcomes blind and visually impaired visitors.

Explore Lieteberg entirely at your own pace

ToerismeVlaanderen-Lieteberg-20260525-HR-045

Courtyard with modern pavilion at the forest edge, surrounded by trees, with a few visitors and sandy ground.

An adventure in the vast countryside of Terhills

Have you ever heard of bikejoring? In this sport, a mountain bike is pulled by a dog. Amanda and Charlie are absolutely world-class in this discipline. Especially for this occasion, they completed a bikejoring course in Terhills, one of the gateways to the Hoge Kempen National Park. Are you looking to go on your own wheelchair adventure in this national park? You can rent a wheelchair puller with an off-road wheelchair on site. This means everyone here can enjoy the beautiful countryside, including uneven paths and even steep climbs. An adventure you’ll never forget.

Rent an off-road wheelchair in Hoge Kempen National Park

Overhead view of a cyclist with bike and an orange-leashed dog standing by a #SelfieForAll sign on gravel.

A moment of tranquillity at Gaasbeek Castle

Heritage? Nature? Adventure? Triple check! After their adventures in Limburg, Amanda and Charlie head for the green outskirts of Brussels. There, they find peace and tranquillity at Gaasbeek Castle. That romantic castle tells tales that are centuries old. In the heart of this green oasis, you’ll also discover a rich collection of fine furniture, tapestries, paintings, and much more. Visitors who are blind or visually impaired will also find plenty to enjoy here. There are relief-printed floor plans and a tactile model of the castle, whilst an audio guide takes you through the collection.

Discover a stately castle in a green oasis

18,000 plant species at Meise Botanic Garden

This packed itinerary in Flanders culminates at the Meise Botanic Garden, one of Europe’s largest botanical gardens. It is home to no fewer than 18,000 different plant species. Here, you can explore gardens full of medicinal plants, unusual exotic species, and beautiful roses. You can discover the history of this place at the stately Bouchout Castle. Meise Botanic Garden is the perfect way to round off an accessible visit, as everyone is welcome here. All its natural beauty can easily be enjoyed by everyone thanks to comfort strips, paved footpaths, tactile maps, and customised tours.

Discover the natural splendour of Meise Botanic Garden

Greenhouse in a botanical garden, with garden paths and flower beds, surrounded by tall trees under blue sky.

Plantentuin Meise

We welcomed Amanda and Charlie with open arms. She had a wonderful visit, and for us, it was exceptionally enlightening. We remain committed to making Flanders as accessible a place as possible. Do you have any comments, suggestions or tips? Let us know via toegankelijk@toerismevlaanderen.be.

Practical information about Amanda and Charlie’s trip

Transport
They flew from Geneva to Brussels Airport. From there, they took the train to Mechelen. They took the train from Mechelen to Hasselt. They took a taxi for the longer journeys and walked the shorter distances.
Accommodation
Hotel Vé in Mechelen, Hotel Zuid in Genk, Center Parcs Terhills Resort in Dilsen-Stokkem, and NH Brussels Airport in Diegem (near Brussels Airport).
Restaurants
Bistro Fuego
The Bakery by Panarex
Restaurant Terland
Resto Graaf