Ghent is a museum city par excellence. From contemporary art to historic heritage: in a city of 250,000 inhabitants you find an astonishing range, and on top of that, most museums are fully or largely accessible to wheelchair users. In this guide we map out a route along the most rewarding accessible museums, each with an honest description of what you can expect in terms of accessibility.
SMAK: contemporary art without thresholds
S.M.A.K. is the Municipal Museum for Contemporary Art and is located in Citadelpark Ghent. The museum is entirely step-free: wide lifts connect all exhibition floors, the rooms are spacious and the corridors have good turning circles for electric wheelchairs. There is an adapted toilet on the ground floor, and the museum café has a level terrace entrance. SMAK also loans folding stools for companions on request. An ideal combination with a break in the surrounding park.
Design Museum Gent: rebuilt with accessibility as a pillar
Design Museum Gent recently reopened after a thorough renovation in which accessibility was central. There are now two lifts connecting all four floors, and the new extension works with gentle ramps instead of stairs. The historic Hotel de Coninck wing has also been made accessible via a discreetly integrated platform lift. Toilets on every level are adapted.
STAM: the history of Ghent at a glance
STAM Gent in the Bijloke abbey is perhaps the most wheelchair-friendly museum in the city. The entire route follows a continuous ramp or uses wide lifts. The iconic hall with the giant aerial image of Ghent is laid out flat and perfectly accessible. For users with limited vision there are tactile maps and audio guides. The museum café has a flat terrace in the herb garden.
House of Alijn: folk culture with charm
Huis van Alijn, housed in a former almshouse from the 14th century, is surprisingly accessible despite its historic setting. There is a lift to every floor, and thresholds have been removed where possible. The inner courtyard is entirely level. It is one of the most entertaining museums in the city: through everyday objects (toys, wedding clothes, advertising) you experience daily life through the ages.
MIAT (Industry Museum): technology without obstacles
MIAT Gent, officially the Industry Museum, shows the history of industrialisation in an old cotton mill on the Leie. All five floors are reachable via an industrial goods lift that is now used as a visitor lift — an authentic touch. The machine sections are laid out level and spaciously. Audio guides are available in Dutch, French, English and German.
Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens: modern art in a garden
A little outside the city in Sint-Martens-Latem lies Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens. This small modernist gem is entirely step-free, and the surrounding sculpture garden is largely accessible via paved paths. An ideal stop if you dedicate a whole day to art and want to relax a little outside the city centre.
Gravensteen: historic challenge with compromises
Gravensteen Castle is a 12th-century castle and therefore not a step-free experience in the strict sense. Even so, there is a dedicated accessible route: via the main entrance you reach the lower inner courtyard and part of the towers by lift. The upper ramparts and the great hall are only reachable via stairs. So for the view from the roof you need assistance or an alternative plan, but the museum offers a reduced rate for those who cannot do the full route.
Museum Dr. Guislain: psychiatry in a historic setting
Museum Guislain is housed in the first psychiatric hospital in Belgium. The building has been made accessible via lifts and ramps, and the exhibitions on mental health care and outsider art are internationally acclaimed. There is an adapted toilet at the entrance, and the spacious chapel exhibition space is easy to reach.
Combination tips: how do you plan a museum day?
For a relaxed day we usually limit ourselves to two museums. A sample programme:
- Morning: SMAK or Design Museum (since both demand close attention)
- Lunch: in the museum café or at Otomat Gent on the Korenmarkt
- Afternoon: STAM or Huis van Alijn (lighter on energy, but rich in content)
Practical tips
- Check opening times. Most museums are closed on Mondays, except STAM (closed on Tuesdays).
- Buy a Museumpass. The museumPASSmusées provides access to all the museums mentioned, and many accessibility features are included.
- Use public transport. Parking in Ghent is scarce; the city centre is low-traffic. Come by train via Ghent-Sint-Pieters station and take tram 1 or 4 to the centre.
- Book an audio guide or tour in advance. A few museums offer bespoke individual tours for wheelchair users — ask when booking.
- Plan in rest breaks. Ghent has plenty of accessible cafés and coffee bars close to the museums; use them as a pit stop to recharge your battery — both literally and figuratively.