Welcome to Access-i

Belgian Chocolate Village

Since the 19th century, Koekelberg has been home to many chocolate makers... the BCV in the heart of Brussels' most chocolaty commune.

In the very heart of this historic site of the ‘Biscuiteries Chocolateries Victoria’, you will discover a remarkable art deco world. With its superb ceramic frescoes (1904), majestic central staircase and Belle Epoque woodwork, this unique setting dedicated to chocolate is the gateway to the Belgian Chocolate Village.

Did you know? The famous Big Nuts bar, still sold under the Côte d'Or brand, was created in 1953 by the Victoria chocolate factory, and was its flagship product for many years.

The great Jacques Brel himself had a taste of it when he was delivering cardboard boxes from the family business Vanneste & Brel to Victoria, just before moving to Paris to live ‘his impossible dream’.

At the Belgian Chocolate Village, you can find out all about Belgian chocolate!

All about its astonishing and prestigious history... and its manufacturing secrets. From bean to bar, an interactive journey accessible to all.

A multimedia scenography and numerous touch screens

A permanent exhibition of replicas of the jewels of Brussels architecture, created in chocolate by chocolate sculptors.

An indoor tropical greenhouse where you can admire cocoa trees and various exotic species such as banana, vanilla, pepper, turmeric, ginger, etc.

Surprise, themed and temporary exhibitions.

The Workshop, where you can watch live demonstrations and sample the creations of our passionate artisan chocolatiers.

The ‘Belle Epoque’ tasting room, where you can enjoy a tasty break with its deliciously stocked chocolate counter.

The Boutique, with products from chocolate makers from all over Belgium, to prolong your pleasure.

A museum that is not lacking in interest and that puts itself at the service of visitors to enable them to enjoy a rich and gourmet visit. 

Whatever your specific needs, contact them so that they can reassure you and give you the best possible welcome.

Strong points

Staff
  • There is staff available to help negotiate obstacles.
  • There is staff available to direct and guide.
Safety
  • The structure of the location is simple and makes it possible to find the way and orient oneself easily.
Parking
  • It is possible to drop a person off near the entrance.
Identification
  • The building is easy to find.

Access to the building is possible via a side entrance. Ideally, you should let someone know that you are coming or let them know by ringing the bell at the entrance.

Inside the building, you can move around freely, but access to the interactive modules and other areas can be tricky.

Access to the shop, tasting room and toilets is via the lift. It is advisable to check that it is working properly before visiting the site.

Strong points

Parking
  • There is at least 1 reserved parking space less than 100 metres from the entrance.
  • It is possible to drop a person off near the entrance.
Entrance
  • The building is easy to identify.
  • The entrance is easy to identify.
  • The alternative entrance is opened upon request.
  • There is a doorbell at the entrance that allows asking for help.
  • The staff sees the persons who arrive and can offer assistance.
Home
  • The payment device is easy to use.
  • There is a mobile payment device.
  • The free space in front of the counter is sufficiently big.
  • There is staff available to help negotiate obstacles.
  • There is staff available to direct and guide.
Horizontal circulation
  • The width of the pathways is sufficient.
Vertical circulation
  • There is a lift.
Exposition
  • All the content of the exhibition is accessible and visible.
Dining room
  • Some tables allow a correct positioning in a wheelchair.
  • The width of circulations is sufficient.
  • Service is provided at the table by the staff.
  • The staff is available to help people sit at a table, choose, serve themselves, pay...

Points of attention

Parking
  • There is no car park.
Access road from the car park
  • There is a step to negotiate.
  • The access path towards the alternative entrance is badly signalled.
Access road from the street
  • The access path towards the alternative entrance is badly signalled.
Entrance
  • There is a step in the entrance.
Horizontal circulation
  • Some transit areas are too narrow.
  • Reflections or backlighting can impair vision.
Adapted sanitary
  • The adapted toilet is hard to find.
  • The toilet is not properly equipped.
  • The toilet is not properly signalled.
Exposition
  • Due to the configuration of the premises, a part of the content is difficult to access.

Strong points

Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to identify.
  • There is a doorbell at the entrance that allows asking for help.
  • The staff sees the persons who arrive and can offer assistance.
  • The building is easy to identify.
  • The alternative entrance is opened upon request.
  • The door can be crossed in autonomy.
Home
  • Seats are available near the reception.
  • Seat sticks are available.
  • There is staff available to help negotiate obstacles.
  • There is staff available to direct and guide.
Horizontal circulation
  • There is no step to negotiate.
  • Circulation is easy everywhere.
  • The width of the pathways is sufficient.
  • Most of the transit areas are sufficiently large.
  • There are seats along the pathway.
Vertical circulation
  • There is a lift.
  • There is a grab bar in the lift.
Adapted sanitary
  • There is a toilet with grab bars and it is easy to use.
Exposition
  • All the content of the exhibition is accessible.
  • There are seats in every space of the exhibition.
Dining room
  • The width of circulations is sufficient.
  • Service is provided at the table by the staff.

Points of attention

Access road from the street
  • There are no seats along the pathway.
  • The access path towards the alternative entrance is badly signalled.
Adapted sanitary
  • The toilet is not properly signalled.

The museum is accessible, but will need to be accompanied by an audio description to complement the audio guide provided.

The chocolate workshop and tastings are a plus.

Strong points

Access road from the car park
  • Circulation is free from obstacles.
Guide dog
  • Assistance dogs are accepted.
Entrance
  • There is a doorbell at the entrance that allows asking for help.
  • The staff sees the persons who arrive and can offer assistance .
Home
  • The reception is located in front of the entrance.
  • The reception is in a quiet environment.
  • The staff sees the persons coming into the building and can assist them.
Horizontal circulation
  • Circulation is free from obstacles.
Vertical circulation
  • A lift serves all the floors open to the public.
Dining room
  • The staff is available to help people : sit at a table, choose, serve themselves, pay...
  • The service is at the table.

Points of attention

Exposition
  • Only a small part of the exhibition content is adapted (touch, smell, hearing).

Brightness and glare can make visits less comfortable at certain times of day. However, with a little goodwill, these inconveniences can easily be avoided.

The light is discontinuous in the pathways.

Strong points

Access road from the car park
  • There are no obstacles.
Access road from the street
  • Circulation is free from obstacles.
Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to identify.
  • There is a doorbell at the entrance that allows asking for help.
  • The staff sees the persons who arrive and can offer assistance.
Home
  • The staff sees the persons coming into the building and can assist them.
  • The reception is located in front of the entrance.
  • The reception is in a quiet environment.
Horizontal circulation
  • Circulation is free from obstacles.
  • Circulation is free from obstacles.
Vertical circulation
  • A lift serves all the floors.
Exposition
  • Adapted guided tours are organised upon reservation.
Dining room
  • The staff is available to help people sit at a table, choose from the menu, serve themselves, pay...
  • The service is at the table.

Points of attention

Home
  • Reflections or backlighting can impair vision.
Exposition
  • The written explanations are hard to read.
  • The majority of works are displayed in display cases.

On the whole, the tour is highly visual and requires no additional input.

Strong points

Parking
  • The car park is freely accessible.
Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to find.
  • The building is easy to find.
  • There is a doorbell near the door.
  • The entrance device us easy to find and use.
  • The staff sees the persons who arrive and can offer assistance.
  • The opening hours are displayed next to the door.
  • The rates are displayed next to the door.
Home
  • The reception is open, well lit and allows lip reading.
  • The reception is easy to find and close to the entrance.
  • The institution can be contacted in writing: text or email.
  • The institution can be contacted by email.
  • The rates are displayed in the reception.
Wireless
  • It is possible to connect to the mobile networks, 3G or 4G.
  • Wi-Fi is available upon request.
Light
  • The lighting is sufficient and allows lip reading.
Adapted sanitary
  • It is possible to see whether a toilet is occupied or free.
Exposition
  • The displayed content is mainly visual.
  • The presented works are explained in an simple and easily understandable way.
  • The lighting is sufficient and allows lip reading.
Dining room
  • There are round or oval tables for X persons.
  • The lighting is sufficient and allows lip reading.

Points of attention

Home
  • There is no staff member practicing sign language.
  • The lighting is not continuous.
  • Reflections or backlighting can impair vision.

On the whole, the tour is highly visual and requires no additional input.

Strong points

Parking
  • The car park is freely accessible.
Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to find.
  • The building is easy to find.
  • There is a doorbell near the door.
  • The entrance device us easy to find and use.
  • The staff sees the persons who arrive and can offer assistance.
  • The opening hours are displayed next to the door.
  • The rates are displayed next to the door.
Home
  • The reception is located in a quiet environment.
  • The reception is easy to find and close to the entrance.
  • The institution can be contacted in writing: text or email.
  • The institution can be contacted by email.
  • The rates are displayed in the reception.
  • The premises are easy to understand.
  • There is staff available to direct and guide.
Light
  • The lighting is sufficient and allows lip reading.
Adapted sanitary
  • It is possible to see whether a toilet is occupied or free.
Exposition
  • The environment is calm.
  • The displayed content is mainly visual.
  • Written explanations are available.
  • The presented works are explained in an simple and easily understandable way.
  • The lighting is sufficient and allows lip reading.
Dining room
  • The environment is calm.
  • The lighting is sufficient and allows lip reading.

The location and the exhibition make the visit suitable for everyone. The chocolate workshop and tastings are additional assets. 

Strong points

Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to find.
  • The building is easy to find.
  • There is a doorbell near the door.
  • The staff sees the persons who arrive and can offer assistance.
  • The opening hours are displayed next to the door.
  • The rates are displayed next to the door.
Home
  • The reception is calm.
  • The reception is easy to find and close to the entrance.
  • A reference person is present to welcome the persons with special needs.
  • There is staff available to help negotiate obstacles.
  • There is staff available to direct and guide.
Vertical circulation
  • The lift is easy to use or staff is available to help.
  • A reference person is present to welcome the persons with special needs.
  • There is staff available to help negotiate obstacles.
  • There is staff available to direct and guide.
Horizontal circulation
  • The location is calm.
  • The structure of the location is simple and makes it possible to find the way and orient oneself easily.
Adapted sanitary
  • The toilets are easy to find.
Exposition
  • Adapted guided visits can be reserved by going directly to the reception.
  • The adapted guided visits can be reserved by phone.
  • Guided visits adapted to children are organised.
  • An adapted visit is available upon prior request.
  • There is no need to by a ticket in advance.
  • There are interactive terminals.
Dining room
  • The lighting is sufficient and allows lip reading.
  • The location is calm.
  • The location is well lit.

Points of attention

Exposition
  • There is no easy to read support.
  • Reflections or backlighting can impair vision.
Access-i vous informe sur l'accessibilité de ce lieu, de par les données relevées sur place, à un instant T. Les modifications éventuelles après la visite d'Access-i relèvent de la responsabilité du gestionnaire.