Hof van Busleyden Museum
Hof van Busleyden Museum
♿ Wheelchair accessible Museum
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Hof van Busleyden Museum

♿ Wheelchair accessible

Hof van Busleyden is a beautifully restored Renaissance palace in the heart of Mechelen, dating back to the early 16th century. Originally built for Hieronymus van Busleyden, a humanist and member of the Great Council of Mechelen, the palace now serves as a museum telling the story of Burgundian court culture in the Low Countries. Its collection includes the famous Enclosed Gardens -- intricate devotional assemblages created by nuns -- as well as paintings, sculptures, and historical artefacts that illuminate Mechelen's golden age as a capital of power and art.

The museum underwent a thorough renovation completed in 2018 with accessibility as a core design principle. An elevator provides access to all floors of the building, ensuring that every exhibition space is reachable for wheelchair users. The ground floor courtyard and garden are level and paved, offering a pleasant accessible outdoor space. Wheelchairs are available for loan free of charge at the reception desk, and tactile and audio elements throughout the exhibits enhance the experience for visitors with various needs.

Adapted toilet facilities are located within the museum. While the museum itself does not have its own car park, accessible public parking is available nearby, and the building is easily reachable from the accessible Mechelen train station. The museum shop and cafe on the ground floor are also fully accessible. Hof van Busleyden stands as a fine example of how historic buildings can be sensitively adapted to welcome every visitor without compromising their architectural heritage.