Accessible travel in Flanders

©Westtoer

Welcome to Flanders, a beautiful region brimming with history, enchanting cities and areas of green nature. Follow our Flemish Masters to the places where they lived, worked and were inspired. Visit our majestic castles. Taste the most delicious regional and seasonal dishes, prepared by our master chefs.

Explore Flanders your way: by train, bus, metro or (coastal) tram. Or, if you prefer, by adapted taxi, rental car, minibus or coach. Why not by (adapted) bike? Here, you will find all the information you need to plan a smooth visit to Flanders.

MeerMobiel helps you on your way

From accessible public transport to all types of door-to-door transport, on MeerMobiel.be you can read pretty much everything about accessible and adapted transport in Flanders and Brussels. Use the search engine and the postcode of the district where you're staying to get a summary of the local transport options. Here, you will also find all the information about possible discounts, allowances, priority tickets and the right to assistance during your travels.

MeerMobiel.be

By train (SNCB-NMBS)

The Belgian Railway company, SNCB-NMBS for short, organises the public transport by train in Belgium. On belgiantrain.be, you will find information about assistance, discounted rates, taking a guide dog, assistance aids on the train and more.

As a wheelchair user, you will need assistance to get in and out of the train. For a wheelchair measuring a maximum of 75 cm wide and 120 cm in length and weighing a maximum of 300 kg (including the user), a mobile ramp is used which adapts to different platform heights. Do you wish to use it? Don't forget to reserve in good time (click here for the contact options).

Using this handy summary of stations on belgiantrain.be you immediately see what assistance is offered in which station and how far ahead you can reserve it.

TIP This information brochure already gets you started (also available in the stations). Would you like a copy in Braille or on an audio CD? Mail your request to assistance@b-rail.be.

Guide for people with reduced mobility (SNCB-NMBS)

Toegankelijk openbaar vervoer in Vlaanderen (5)

By bus, tram and metro in Flanders (De Lijn)

In Flanders, the Flemish transport company De Lijn organises public transport by bus, tram and metro. The fixed routes, stops and timetables are available on delijn.be. On the accessibility page of De Lijn, you will find tips to make an accessible journey run as smoothly as possible.

Fixed bus routes

There is no obligation to reserve your journey beforehand. The buses on fixed routes provide places for people with reduced mobility, they have a boarding ramp and a recognisable spot to place the wheelchair during the journey. People with a visual disability are aided by a boarding surface made with rubber tiles and a connecting guiding line.

Did you know that you can check the accessibility of the stops yourself? You can do that using the De Lijn app or on delijn.be. For example, a boarding ramp can only be used safely at an (elevated) accessible stop. Such handy information is worth checking beforehand on this app or website. As well as that, it allows you to follow the progress of your journey in real time. As such, you will know exactly when you will arrive at your destination. And if you don't know the region, it's handy to use the visual stop announcements. In addition, a number of lines also provide auditive announcements.

Flexbus

You can also use a flexbus if it's impossible to complete your journey using the fixed routes of the bus, tram, train or metro. However, these must be reserved ahead. This service includes a number of accessible vehicles. If you need an accessible ride, be sure to mention it when making your reservation at the Hoppin Switchboard.

BlueAssist

Do you need assistance, but is it difficult to ask the driver or your fellow passengers? Then you can use the BlueAssist cards or the BlueAssist app. In this way, they can read your request and give you the assistance you require.

Toegankelijk openbaar vervoer in Vlaanderen (1)

By bus, tram and metro in Brussels (STIB-MIVB)

The Intermunicipal Transport Company, STIB-MIVB for short, organises the public transport in the 19 municipalities within the Brussels Capital Region and to and from the 11 peripheral municipalities. It covers the bus, tram and metro. On stib-mivb.be, you can find a network map on which the wheelchair symbol immediately identifies which lines are accessible. Here, you can also read more about the accessibility of stops for wheelchair users and which stations are equipped with lifts and/or sloping ramps. Handy information when mapping out your route.

Handy to know: in these accessible stations, you can request assistance. Make sure to complete this assistance request form beforehand or call +32 2 515 23 65 beforehand. Then you won't have to wait long.

Accessibility of stops, stations and vehicles (STIB-MIVB)

Form to request assistance (STIB-MIVB)

By taxi in Flanders and Brussels

In Flanders, you will find assistance at

Taxi Hendriks (with various sites throughout Flanders)
Movi+ Mobiliteit Voor Iedereen (including, non-urgent transport of people with an illness and transport for people and wheelchairs to the airport, for example).

In Brussels, you will find assistance at

Taxis Verts is available 24/7 for wheelchair users. Their vehicles are equipped with an access platform and electric lift. Reservations can be made on +32 (0)2 349 49 49 or using the mobile app.
Transport Et Vie asbl

Local taxi services offering accessible transport (MeerMobiel)

Sien Verstraeten

By car: parking in Flanders and Brussels

In Flanders too, you can park in a reserved place with your European parking card for a person with a disability. Whether you park for free and/or with no time limit depends entirely on the local authority. So keep in mind that parking policies can vary greatly from place to place.

Tip! On Navigeer en Parkeer, you will find specific parking information for locations at the Flemish coast, Bruges and the Westhoek region. On the digital map or using a GPS, you can also search for accessible parking spaces.

Sien Verstraeten

By adapted taxi, rental car, minibus or coach?

Dockx Rental and Taxi Hendrickx rent out adapted vehicles. They have premises across Flanders and Brussels. You can also contact a number of local rental offices, such as Q-Care, Autoverhuur Meerschaert, Peeters Mobility and Renties.

Looking for a bus or coach with a driver for a group excursion? Check out the website of the FBAA (Federation of Belgian Coach and Coach enterprises).

By bike

On www.gfietst.be, you will find a summary of all locations in Flanders where you can borrow, rent or share a bike.

There are bikes in all shapes and sizes: tandems, rickshaws, side-by-side tandems, handcycles, recumbent bikes, tricycles ...
At some share points, you can also call on a bike buddy if independent cycling is difficult.

Sien Verstraeten

Accessible cycling routes in Flanders

The accessible cycling routes take everyone on a cycling journey through Flanders. With an adapted (e-)bike, you cycle to nature spots and historical cities.

Accessible cycling routes in Flanders

Want to know more? The websites of our tourism partners will give you additional practical information. Would you prefer to read those pages in your own language? Use the translation option in your browser or use a free online translation tool.

Happy reading and see you soon in Flanders!