A day out among greenery should not be a privilege reserved for those who can walk. Belgium has some of the most beautifully designed gardens and parks in Europe, and more and more of these sites are investing in good accessibility. Wide paths, plenty of paved routes, accessible toilets and ramps are now the standard at many places, not the exception. Below are our eight favourite accessible gardens and parks in Belgium, from world-renowned botanic gardens to quiet city parks that offer a fine escape on a weekday.
Meise Botanic Garden: the crown jewel
The Meise Botanic Garden is probably the best-known botanical garden in Belgium and has become a world reference for accessibility in recent years. The sprawling 92-hectare estate offers a network of paved paths connecting wide landscape zones: the Plant Palace with its thirteen glasshouses, the medicinal garden, the rose garden and the arboretum with monumental specimens from every continent. Wheelchairs and mobility scooters can be borrowed at the entrance. The glasshouses are step-free, and the new visitor centre offers all the comfort of a modern museum. For those planning a full day, the restaurant in the Plant Palace offers a step-free lunch spot with views over the palms.
Jardins d'Annevoie: art and water
In the south of Namur lie the Jardins d'Annevoie, unique because all the water features work without pumps. The eighteenth-century fountains, canals and water cascades are powered solely by gravity. The main paths through the gardens are level and largely paved, with an inviting loop linking the main highlights. Some side paths are steeper or semi-paved - for the optimal experience, visit on a dry day. By the entrance is an accessible toilet and the cafeteria terrace is wheelchair-friendly.
Parc de Woluwe: the green lung of Brussels
The Parc de Woluwe is one of the most beautifully designed English landscape parks in Brussels, with a chain of linked ponds, old monumental trees and walking paths winding through the rolling terrain. The main routes are wide and paved, with a few gentle slopes that most wheelchair users can manage independently. Benches are widely available, and tram 39 takes you to the main entrance with a lowered platform. An ideal park for those seeking a peaceful half-day in Brussels without travelling far.
Domaine Solvay La Hulpe: castle and park
The Domaine Solvay in La Hulpe combines a large landscape park with the fairy-tale castle of the Solvay family. The wide avenues and the continuous paved paths around the central lake are comfortable to navigate and offer views of both the castle and the old beech woods. The castle itself is partially accessible via a ramp; in the outbuildings, exhibitions are regularly organised that are step-free. The cafeteria at the main entrance has a wheelchair-friendly terrace overlooking the horse paddock.
Cinquantenaire Park: monumental and level
The Cinquantenaire Park in Brussels is one of the most monumental parks in the country. The wide esplanades and the iconic triumphal arch form the backdrop to many events, but outside the busy moments it is also simply a fine park to walk or wheel through. All main paths are paved and level. Three museums within the park - the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces, the Autoworld Museum and the Royal Museums of Art and History - have greatly improved their accessibility in recent years, with lifts, ramps and accessible toilets.
Bois de la Cambre: the green gateway to the Sonian Forest
The Bois de la Cambre connects the Brussels Avenue Louise with the Sonian Forest and is a popular walking spot for city dwellers. Around the central lake with the Theatre du Vaudeville runs a level paved walking loop ideal for a short relaxed wheelchair outing. In good weather boats can be hired, and the terrace of the lakeside pavilion is step-free. For those wanting to head deeper into the Sonian Forest, several adapted paths make longer woodland walks possible.
Hallerbos: for lovers of blue
The Hallerbos becomes world-famous each April and May for its carpet of wild bluebells. Accessibility is partial: the main entrance on the Vlasmarktdreef has a usable path leading to the first flowering zone. Not all side paths are passable on wheels, but the accessible route already gives a fine impression of the iconic landscape. Information is available at the visitor centre on which routes are best accessible at the time of visit.
Vrijbroekpark Mechelen: flowers and kitchen gardens
Finally the Vrijbroekpark in Mechelen, a lesser-known gem with a rose garden, an impressive dahlia collection, kitchen gardens and playgrounds for children. The paths are wide, paved and level, and the park lends itself well to a relaxed walk of two to three hours with several rest points. By the entrance are accessible toilets and a step-free cafeteria, and admission is free.
Whether you prefer formal designed gardens or sweeping landscape parks, somewhere among these eight places you will find a destination to suit your mobility needs. A tip that applies to every green spot: visit on a dry day and outside the busy weekend days, when the paths are at their best and there is more space to enjoy a peaceful visit.