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Post by ruthmc on Jul 5, 2019 13:33:03 GMT
i came across this board last year when researching our long-awaited vacation, and have gotten so much inspiration and tips. Now I’m tiptoeing in with a question.
First, some background. We’re coming from the US for two weeks in September, in and out of Brussels. We’ll spend a few nights in Brussels, then the rest of our itinerary, not finalized for the order or length yet, is: Brugge, with day trips to Ghent and Ypres; Antwerp; and likely based around Liege for day trips to Maastricht and the nearby American Military cemetery, and Cologne, and maybe Dinant.
I have some limited mobility; I usually walk with a cane, but for the distances needed for sightseeing, I’ll need to use a wheelchair. I don’t own one, and while I could buy one to take with me, I’d rather not, since I don’t need it all the time. I’ve tried contacting several places in Brussels and Antwerp (so far), both private companies and the Red Cross, regarding possible rental. A couple of times I’ve gotten vague replies with no response to a subsequent email, or no response at all. Which leads me finally to my question. Does anyone have any suggestions that could help me in my search? Ideally, I’d rent in each place, so I don’t have to take it on the trains when we move. I think I’m going to try contacting the hotels to see if they might help, but so far I’ve only booked Brussels.
Sorry for the long-winded first post, and thanks.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 5, 2019 14:19:59 GMT
First of all, welcome aboard, ruthmc. I hope that a number of our members will have good suggestions because not all of us are as spry as we used to be.
A quick Google search turned up wheelchair rental in Belgium, but at 20 euros a day, it seemed like it could add up really fast. But I also found sites selling foldable wheelchairs for about 70 euros, which seems like a better option.
I imagine that the Belgian railways have the same sort of assistance for the disabled that the French railways do, but maybe our Belgian members know more about that. The fact that you can walk with a cane makes everything a lot easier, though, since it implies that you don't need to be "hoisted" on or off transportation.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 5, 2019 18:12:34 GMT
Yes, a warm welcome to you, Ruth! Your trip sounds wonderful and I'd love to hear more about it as it unfolds. I found this rather vague site, but it does have a search feature for maybe more information: www.handiscover.com/content/destinations/belgium/guide-to-accessible-holiday-antwerp-disabled-holidays/There is this wonderful offer from Ghent (I loved Ghent!): fietsambassade.gent.be/en/rent-bike/borrow-wheelchair-or-buggy-centre-townAs Kerouac pointed out, the prices can be high: www.mobilityequipmenthiredirect.com/mobility-equipment-hire/16111-manual-wheelchair-hire-in-brussels-belgium-self-propelled/I lifted this from a year-old TA post: You can hire a wheelchair from Thuiszorgwinkel (literally, "at-home-care" shop), see www.desocialekaart.be/thuiszorgwinkel-ieper-496959 ... you'll need to phone or e-mail them in advance to reserve for the dates concerned. They are located in a business park on Dehemlaan near the golf club, near the bus stop Ieper-Waterpoortstraat, served by buses 29, 60 and 95. Alternatively, it is often possible to arrange this through pharmacies, and if you have not already selected accommodation, it appears that this b&b can organise the hire of wheelchairs, lifting mechanisms etc. as required: www.varletfarm.com/en/Apologies if these are the sites you've already found!
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Post by lugg on Jul 5, 2019 19:08:20 GMT
I cant help ... last time I went to Belgium I was 8 or 9 years old , but welcome
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Post by mich64 on Jul 5, 2019 20:45:54 GMT
Welcome! I hope the links provided thus far assist you.
Perhaps this might help, if you are unable to find a wheelchair in each town, in our hotel in Brugge there were many brochures/business cards for personal tours of Military cemeteries and monuments. We also took a personal tour to Ypres where our guide brought us to the Menin Gate nightly ceremony. We were picked up at our hotel by our guide in a van and driven right to the sites, with many benches at most locations you would have opportunity to rest and the guide works at your pace. We found the rates very reasonable as well.
Best of luck in your search.
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Post by whatagain on Jul 5, 2019 21:06:58 GMT
Hi
Welcome to any port.
I needed twice a wheelchair in Belgium. Once to go to Italy and I rented it from the Red Cross and was very satisfied. Second time Red Cross was totally unhelpful and I cancelled my donation to them afterwards. We now rent it from a nearby shop for one euro a day.
This said if you tell me the schedule I can make the necessary phone calls. Not that I am a nice person but some people helped me when I needed it. I live close to brussel and there is another charming anyporter who lives in the Flemish part of the country.
The US cemetery you refer to is probably in the east at something with chapelle in the name. Henry chapelle ? Quite impressive btw.
Don't hesitate to ask any question.
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Post by lagatta on Jul 6, 2019 0:42:02 GMT
I'm so happy to see the level of support here. I've helped people with such matters in Montréal, but am a bit useless about Belgium.
Bixa, I'm looking forward to going to Gent/Ghent/Gand because friends who had retired to southwestern France and were finding it too expensive have relocated in Ghent (perhaps family had left them a flat there; this often happens in Europe). They don't regret it despite the somewhat more dismal weather. It is a university town, and thus young and lively. They ride their bicycles more in Ghent than they did in the warmer French town.
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Post by ruthmc on Jul 7, 2019 3:20:25 GMT
Thank you all for the warm welcome and links and offer to assist! We’re currently visiting my father-in-law for a short vacation, and I’ll return to this thread and follow up when we get back to Virginia next week.
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Post by questa on Jul 7, 2019 5:27:06 GMT
I add my welcome to you, Ruth, as well as congratulations for keeping on travelling in spite of mobility challenges. You might find it useful in your sight-seeing excursions to know where there are flights of stairs and difficult terrain for your chair. Have a chat to the hotel people and ask them to mark on your map the smoothest way to get around. As mich64 says, it is better to have a private guide and transport for the sites that attract many people. You will probably be taken to an area set aside for better viewing.
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Post by ruthmc on Jul 10, 2019 22:24:34 GMT
Since I've returned home, I've re-emailed the agencies I had contacted previously: the Red Cross in Antwerp and West Flanders, and a medical equipment shop in Brussels, along with the Hilton in Brussels. Hopefully I'll have some response this time. Whatagain, I so appreciate your offer and will keep it in mind if I don't find any rentals. We plan on use a tour in Ieper; I believe I'll be able to walk for the battlefield sites, and use a wheelchair for the museum and the Menin Gate. Bixaorellana, thanks for the Gent information, that's good to know. We debated about staying in Brugge or Gent, and decided on Brugge because I want to experience it late at night and early in the morning before it's overrun. The cemetery we're planning on going is the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten. I don't have any personal ties to the cemetery, but have wanted to see it since I read about how the locals have adopted the graves of the fallen, passing down "their" soldier to family members. Once I have the itinerary settled, I'll post it for review. Friends can't understand why we're spending 2 weeks in Belgium instead of a few days, but there's lots that I want to see!
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Post by lagatta on Jul 10, 2019 22:58:53 GMT
People in the Netherlands and doubtless elsewhere - Normandy, I think, have also adopted "their" fallen soldier (or sailor, airman etc) as an honorary family member. Don't regret "slow travel!" I was in Brugge/Bruges only for a day trip, but it was in the wintertime, with few tourists. This was before the hyper-tourism caused by a film set in the town. It is beautiful, but I enjoyed Gent more as a lively young city. The Netherlands American Cemetery is not only in the Netherlands (Nederland) the country, but in its far south, even south of the Canadian and other Commonwealth War Graves I visited. Nothing is very far within the Low Countries, but how are you getting there, by car or by rail? A friend with MS travelled with no problems from Basel to Amsterdam, but as you know well it is important to be prepared. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands_American_Cemetery
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Post by ruthmc on Jul 10, 2019 23:56:27 GMT
The Netherlands American Cemetery is not only in the Netherlands (Nederland) the country, but in its far south, even south of the Canadian and other Commonwealth War Graves I visited. Nothing is very far within the Low Countries, but how are you getting there, by car or by rail? A friend with MS travelled with no problems from Basel to Amsterdam, but as you know well it is important to be prepared. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands_American_Cemetery That segment is the only time we're planning on renting a car. We may rent for two days, and also drive into Wallonia, perhaps Dinant. The rest of the trip will be done by train.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 12, 2019 18:08:58 GMT
Friends can't understand why we're spending 2 weeks in Belgium instead of a few days, but there's lots that I want to see! That's how I wound up feeling about Belgium -- there is so much to see and so much variety!
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Post by lagatta on Jul 12, 2019 18:53:05 GMT
And except for certain festivals and events, and little Bruges, I never found Belgium overtouristed. Ghent and Antwerp are about as cycling-friendly as better-known Dutch cities. Yes, the central square of Brussels gets quite a crowd, but if you want to enjoy the architecture, go early in the morning.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 12, 2019 18:55:52 GMT
I don't think that ruthmc will be doing much cycling, as much as she might like to, even though she will be using wheels part of the time.
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Post by lagatta on Jul 12, 2019 22:48:48 GMT
Nor do I, though you'd be suprised at the range of physical "abilities" that cycle in Amsterdam. Handcycles and other adaptations are generously subsidised, as keeping disabled people active greatly improves their health in all senses. Mobility vehicles (with the same speed restriction as bicycles) are allowed to take the cycle lanes.
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Post by whatagain on Jul 14, 2019 21:09:56 GMT
Been visiting Belgium for about 50 years and still haven't seen it all. Last week I discovered Haasrode. Nothing special there.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 20, 2019 3:56:49 GMT
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Post by ruthmc on Jul 20, 2019 14:26:46 GMT
I wanted to update with some good news: after again emailing several of the shops I had found without response, I contacted the hotels in Brussels and Brugge that we've reserved, and both have responded that I'm welcome to use a hotel wheelchair whenever I need, in or out of the hotel! Now I just need to worry about Antwerp; I haven't decided on accommodations there yet.
Thanks for the link to the trip report - I've started going back to all the posts I've seen previously, now that we're under two months away. I only hope I'll take as good photos as so many of you here have shared.
Oh, and I did briefly think about bike riding to Damme, but the leg that causes the mobility problems doesn't bend well enough for anything longer than 10 minutes or so - drats!
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Post by questa on Jul 20, 2019 14:37:24 GMT
Now I just need to worry about Antwerp; I haven't decided on accommodations there yet. Replace the word "worry" with the word "plan"...it makes it all more fun! We are so lucky that we have some excellent photographers in our midst who are generous with their tips and ideas for great pics.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 20, 2019 16:21:35 GMT
Excellent news, Ruth! I hope Amboseli will weigh in here somewhere, but in the meantime my bit of advice would be to try to find accommodations in or very near the old part of the city. I stayed fairly near the train station and liked the area, but it's a hike from there to the old town.
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Post by lugg on Jul 20, 2019 18:49:20 GMT
Glad it is all coming together for you Ruth - looking forward to seeing your posts and photos .
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Post by amboseli on Jul 21, 2019 9:11:41 GMT
Hi Ruth, and welcome! I'm the charming (?) Anyporter who lives in the Flemish part of Belgium, 20 min. drive from Antwerp. As to hotels in Antwerp, what kind of hotel are you looking for? Big chain? Boutique? Anyway, I would suggest to stay in the historic part of the city rather than near Central Station.
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Post by ruthmc on Jul 21, 2019 19:28:21 GMT
Thanks for the input regarding lodging. I was initially considering the Hampton Inn by the train station, mainly out of thriftiness, since we're splurging a bit for the other stays. But I now realize it will be far easier to get something closer to the historic center. I'm looking at the Hotel Rubens Grote Markt and Antwerp Business Suites. Since we need an elevator or a ground floor room, those are the ones that have those and are most central to where we want and have the other amenities for which I look.
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Post by lagatta on Jul 21, 2019 20:40:36 GMT
I see that the Business suites all have small kitchenettes; that is one thing I really want to have. It looks ideal for business meetings, as expected. The Rubens doesn't seem to have kitchenettes and small fridges.
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Post by amboseli on Jul 21, 2019 21:14:55 GMT
The Rubens has a minibar in every room, as well as coffee/tea making facilities. Both Rubens and Business Suites are very well located.
As for wheelchair, you might have better luck at the Hilton Antwerp Old Town.
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Post by lagatta on Jul 21, 2019 23:21:59 GMT
Do you know of any place that would meet Ruth's mobility requirements that might be a bit cheaper? I'm also thinking of friends I know with mobility issues who couldn't afford those rates. Antwerp is one of the many places I've only seen briefly - I found it an enchanting smallish city. (Though if I spend some time in Belgium this autumn, it will be in Gand as I have friends there - professors with similar history-nerdish interests, though I do NOT want to impose on them!) Here in Québec, the Kéroul association, founded in 1979, is devoted to making tourism accessible to people of all kinds and all degrees of disabilities www.keroul.qc.ca/
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Post by amboseli on Jul 22, 2019 10:40:46 GMT
lagattaSince Ruth mentioned Rubens & Business Suites ... in September those are more expensive than the Hilton! There are a lot of smaller and cheaper hotels, but not sure whether they lend out wheelchairs. I have never stayed in any hotel in Antwerp, since I live so close, but the following ones are well located and less expensive: Appartments City Home Antwerp Hotel Diamonds & Pearls Suite 11.
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Post by lagatta on Jul 22, 2019 12:15:32 GMT
None of the friends I'm thinking of happen to need a wheelchair; some might have problems climbing a lot of stairs.
Thanks!
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Post by amboseli on Jul 22, 2019 13:36:06 GMT
Ruth needs a wheelchair. Didn't realize you were asking for yourself.
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