Ah, Brussels. One of the finest cities in Europe, nay, the world. Famous for its Flemish art, delicious waffles, and one rather popular statue of a little boy urinating. But what does the Belgian capital have to offer when it comes to accessible Brussels? This post seeks to unlock some of the cities most accessible gems!
Piecing together an accessible guide to Brussels isn’t an easy feat to achieve, due in no small part to the fact that the city is pretty ancient. With town houses which are hundreds of years old, and narrow cobbled lanes around every corner; navigating these streets with either a wheelchair or a walking aid, can be quite a challenge. But that is not to say Brussels should be avoided if you have mobility needs – quite the opposite, in fact. I’m a firm believer that Brussels should be high on everybody’s travel wish-list, for reasons including fabulous culture, art and historical interest
So, to save myself from ‘waffling’ on too much (pun intended) lets jump straight into it. Here are my top 10 things to see and do in Accessible Brussels.
1) Marvel in Awe at the Grand Place
As you stand in the center of Brussels’ bustling Grand Place, you’ll find yourself lost in the moment whilst taking in all four corners of this grandiose courtyard style Square.
Not only is the Square a hive of activity, featuring market stalls, cafe terraces, and outdoor bars; but it’s also a place of major cultural significance. The Grand Place is widely regarded as being on the prettiest Squares in all of Europe. As you stand in the centre, you’ll be surrounded by the buildings such as the Brussels Town Hall, the King’s Breadhouse, the Brussels City Museum, and several other historically important Guildhalls.
For all the Grand Place isn’t the easiest place in Brussels to get around if you have mobility concerns – given that the majority of streets are cobbled – the area itself is still worth checking out, if not only for the sheer magnificence of architecture on display.
2) Try Some of the Best Waffles in Town
Waffles are considered street-food in Belgium, and before you delve in, it’s important to know a little about how the Belgian’s like to do their waffles. Belgium is home to two main types of waffle – the Brussels Waffle and the Liege Waffle.
The main difference between the two is that the Brussels Waffle is a fluffy, light waffle, with deeper indentations, and made with a yeasty batter. The Liege Waffle is much denser, with chunks of sugar throughout the batter which caramelises as your waffle is cooking.
But it’s not all about the waffle itself – as delicious as it may be – the true mark of a Belgian waffle is what you put on top of it, and boy oh boy are there a lot of potentials for toppings. From icing sugar to ice cream, and from chocolate sauce to fresh fruit, you will find the list of options appear to be never ending.
Selecting the best waffles in Brussels is of course, subjective. But if you’re looking for a tip for where to go to find some amazing baked goods (including waffles) then you can’t go wrong with the chain Maison Dandoy – often tipped by tourists as serving the nicest waffles in Brussels. You can find Maison Dandoy shops in the Galeries region of Brussels, and also near both the Mannekin Pis and the Grand Place.
3) Draw Inspiration from the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
The museums are in a collection of buildings dotted around the city, with the majority concentrated in the Place Royale (also referred to as Koningsplein).
Several of the museums in particular have accessible entrances, including the MUSÉE OLDMASTERS MUSEUM on Rue de la Régence. The MUSÉE MAGRITTE MUSEUM, MUSÉE FIN-DE-SIÈCLE MUSEUM, and EXPOSITIONS TEMPORAIRES can all be accessed easily via a disabled-friendly entrance at the Place Royale
You can find out more by visiting the Royal Museums of Fine Art of Belgium website.
4) Say Bonjour to the Manneken Pis
The Manneken Pis is perhaps one of the most famous little boys in the world – who just happens to have a seemingly never-ending bladder.
Depending on which time of year you visit the Manneken Pis, you may find that the little boy is dressed up in all manner of different attire – from Santa suits at Christmas to playfully mimicking the Easter Bunny in Spring!
Designed by Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder in the early 1600’s, the tiny statue has been a point of great interest ever since. Currently, the Manneken Pis which is on display today is a replica, with the original being kept in the Brussels City Museum.
5) Enjoy a Meal and Drinks at the Halles Saint-Géry
The Halles Saint-Géry is a beautifully designed set of exhibitions, bar, restuarant, and more, housed in an impressive building, which has stood as it is today since 1881.
Fully accessible – the Halles Saint-Géry is an ideal spot to meet friends for drinks, grab a bite to eat, and even sample a little bit of the art that’s on display.
6) Spend a Rainy Day at the Galerie de la Reine
As with anywhere in Northern Europe, Brussels is susceptable to the weather. When the sun hides behind dark clouds, and it’s blowing a gale outside – why not head indoors and have a mooch around the Galerie de la Reine?
The galerie is completely accessible – although a little busy most days – and is perfect if you’re a shopaholic and want to check out some of Brussels’ finest stores.
7) Take a Stroll in one of Brussels’ Parks
Despite Brussels being an incredibly busy city, rammed to the rafters with tourists, there’s still plenty of nature spots and parks that you can escape to. One in particular which is exceptionally beautiful, is the Bois de la Cambre in the south-east region of Brussels.
Sit back and relax with a book as you escape from the world, or get your fill of daily exercise. Whatever you choose to do in Brussels’ beautiful parks, just be sure to take a look!
8) Chill out with a Coffee on the Terraces
What better way to soak up the ambience that Brussels has to offer than by spending an afternoon sat on one of the cities many terraces, sipping a coffee – or any other drink you feel like sampling. I can definitely recommend a Belgian beer, or five. *HIC*
Given that many of Brussels’ bars and cafes are in old buildings, they’re inaccessible inaccessible – so why not remedy that and still enjoy an authentic Belgian atmosphere, by sitting outside at a terrace cafe (many of which are sheltered with roofs, and have electric heaters/blankets for your convenience).
9) Enjoy the Sun at the Parc du Cinquantenaire
The giant arch that impressively dominates the Parc du Cinquantenaire shares a striking similarity to Berlin’s Brandenburger Tor.
A finer view you will struggle to find, in any other modern cosmopolitan city. Best enjoyed whilst sunbathing in the Parc’s pristine gardens.
If you venture through the arches (beware of cobbles) from the direction of the Parc, you will come to the Avenue de Tervuren – which extends for as far as the eye can see, and is home to some very beautiful fountains, as well as cafes and coffee houses (majority of which will have outdoor seating).
10) Shop ’til you Drop – Chocolate Style
– and an honourable mention for the Eglise Notre-Dame
Aside from waffles and beer, Belgium is of course famous for its exquisite chocolate – so, what finer way to spend a couple of hours than by taking care of all your holiday gifts, and stocking up on all of the scrumptious chocolate you can carry?!
There are dozens (if not hundreds) of chocolate shops dotted around the city, many of which are perfectly located within the central area, near to the main attraction such as the Grand Place and the Manneken Pis.
As with just about everywhere in Brussels, some stores will be inaccessible, and have steps leading to the entrance. There are, however, several stores which do have accessible entrances, such as Passion Chocolat on Bodenbroekstraat, near to the Eglise Notre-Dame (a Cathedral which is very reminiscent of Paris’ Notre-Dame, and is well worth checking out – you can even take a nap on one of the public loungers situated at the front of the Cathedral).
Although this particular Passion Chocolat store does have a slight lipped curb at the entrance, it’s quite insignificant compared to other buildings. There is also a sloped ramp to the front door.
If you would prefer another chocolate shop, then take your time, have a look around, and you’re sure to find exactly what you’re looking for before the day is done. You’ll also likely come across several hidden gems around the city whilst you search – such as street performers and impressive graffiti art.
Need somewhere to stay?
Why not check out the Crowne Plaza Hotel – Le Palace, for somewhere central and convenient. The Crowne Plaza also has disabled friendly rooms, with accessibility equipment for the deaf, accessible bathrooms, in-room accessibility and roll-in showers.
Accessible Brussels: Things to Bear in Mind
It’s true – Brussels really is a remarkable place to visit, but there’s certain things you need to be made aware of before travelling here with any sort of mobility need. A lot of these concerns have been raised throughout the article, but here’s a little recap.
- Cobbled Streets – given the cities age, many of the streets throughout Brussels have cobble stones on them. This can be extremely troublesome if trying to navigate with a wheelchair or walking aid. Usually, there is a paved pathway running parallel with the cobbled road – but with dropped curbs sometimes being hard to locate, you may need some assistance getting up onto the paving.
- Accessible Toilets – this cannot be stressed enough, accessible toilets are really hard to find in old cities like Brussels. Townhouses that span back hundreds of years often have inaccessible toilets in the basement of their premises. There is a solution, however. Most upper-scale hotels in the city center will have accessible toilets for their clientele. Thankfully they are free to use by any member of the public who has a mobility requirement, or a hidden disability.
- Old Buildings – as touched upon in the previous paragraph, many of the buildings in Brussels are very old, and therefore, can often be inaccessible due to narrow doorways, steps inside, and cluttered walkways. Don’t let this put you off, however, as there are many accessible things to enjoy in the city, including those itinerary items listed in this article.
If you’d like further information on Accessible Brussels then I highly recommend checking out Destination Everywhere’s blog post & video, featuring things to do in Brussels.