Historic cities such as Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp and Ghent have developed over centuries with scant attention paid to disabled travellers’ needs. Although attitudes are changing, adapting the physical environment to meet their needs will take a long time. The tourist authorities have collated information to help disabled people, but there are still large gaps. It is therefore important to do your research before you leave home.

Among bodies in the UK providing advice and practical help to disabled travellers are Tripscope, Youreable.com and RADAR (Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation). Those in the USA include Mobility International and SATH (Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality).

City tourist offices hold information on, for example, wheelchair-accessible toilets and facilities for disabled people in hotel rooms, but this is not published in collated form on their websites, so telephone or e-mail the offices. You can also try Access Info, a branch of the Flemish Tourist Board, and VFG, a Flemish organization providing advice for disabled people.

Some UK tour operators specialize in travel for disabled people and their companions. Tourism for All has a Benelux guide. Accessible Travel and Leisure (ATL) offers city breaks in Brussels and Bruges.

The Belgians are very sympathetic to the needs of disabled travellers. If you need their help, they will usually be quick to give it. This compensates to some extent for the lack of ramps, adapted bathrooms, wide doors and other aids.

Many key sites are in historic areas where access is hard for disabled people. Some have been adapted, but others elude practical conversion. Bruges, especially, will never be able totally to adapt its winding staircases, narrow pavements and cobbled streets.

Most larger museums have adequate facilities for disabled people, including wide entrances, ramps, lifts and adapted toilets. Staff are usually helpful; if in doubt about accessibility, telephone before you visit.

The bus, tram and Metro systems, and train stations are generally poorly adapted to use by disabled travellers – although some newer trams have wheelchair access. Tourist offices can offer advice about alternatives, including special taxi services. Belgian Railways has advice pages on its website.

Many modern or renovated hotels have one or more rooms with special facilities for disabled and wheelchair-bound people. These are indicated in tourist office brochures and on the hotels’ websites.

Although restaurants are under pressure to improve their provision, the number of those with full disabled access and facilities remains small. A wheelchair symbol in a tourist brochure may be open to a variety of interpretations when it comes to accessibility.