Welcome to Access-i

BELvue

The BELvue Museum in Brussels is the current museum on Belgium and its history. It is located in the Hotel Bellevue, in the extension of the Royal Palace of Brussels, which forms the corner between the Place du Palais and the Place Royale. 

Discover the country's history through seven themes spread over seven rooms: democracy, prosperity, solidarity, pluralism, migration, language and Europe. Watch news clips, posters, paintings or graphics and listen to contemporary testimonies. Or touch an object and guess what it is.

The museum is accessible by several steps (1 - 3 and 7 steps), which are not equipped with ramps. There is another entrance, but it is difficult for a person in a wheelchair:

- paved road
- paved slope
- threshold 
- ...

The lift door is 79 cm high.

To enter the rooms, you have to pass through an airlock with a space of less than 120/120 cm.

The audio guide can be installed directly on your mobile phone by scanning a QR code.

People who speak sign language can download the AppPatrimoine application, which allows them to download tours in sign language. 

Some of the works have been adapted so that they can be touched and handled by a visually impaired person.

Each visitor receives a visitor's guide with a map of the museum and a description of all the works. 

Strong points

Staff
  • A reference person is present to accompany the persons with special needs.
  • There is staff available to help negotiate obstacles.
Parking
  • It is possible to drop a person off near the entrance.
Identification
  • The building is easy to find.

Strong points

Parking
  • It is possible to drop a person off near the entrance.
Entrance
  • The building is easy to identify.
  • The entrance is easy to identify.
Horizontal circulation
  • The floor is hard.
Vertical circulation
  • There is a lift.
Adapted sanitary
  • The adapted toilet is easy to find.
  • An adapted toilet is available, well signalled and easy to use.

Points of attention

Access road from the street
  • The floor is irregular.
  • The floor is hardly passable.
  • The access path towards the alternative entrance is badly signalled.
Entrance
  • There are steps in the entrance.
  • The main entrance is not accessible and the alternative entrance is hard to find.
  • The staff does not see the persons who arrive.
  • The entrance device is inaccessible.
Home
  • The payment device is difficult to use.
Horizontal circulation
  • Some transit areas are too narrow.
Vertical circulation
  • The width of the lift door measures less than 80 cm.

Strong points

Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to identify.
  • There is a doorbell at the entrance that allows asking for help.
Home
  • Seats are available near the reception.
Horizontal circulation
  • Circulation is easy almost everywhere.
Vertical circulation
  • There is a lift.
Adapted sanitary
  • There is a toilet with grab bars and it is easy to use.

Points of attention

Access road from the street
  • There are no seats along the pathway.
  • There are more than 6 steps to negotiate.
  • There are a few steps, with no handrail, to negotiate.
  • The floor is irregular.
  • The floor is hardly passable.
  • The floor is hardly passable in some places.
Entrance
  • There are more than 3 steps in the entrance.
Vertical circulation
  • The width of the lift door measures less than 80 cm.

Note: In our analysis, we assume that blind people come accompanied when visiting museums.

Indeed, our experience has highlighted this aspect.

Strong points

Access road from the street
  • The dangerous objects in the pathway are secured.
  • Circulation is free from obstacles.
Guide dog
  • Assistance dogs are accepted.
Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to identify.
  • The entrance is located in the logical continuation of the pathway.
Home
  • The reception is in a quiet environment.
  • The reception has no glass partition.
  • The reception is in a quiet environment.
  • The reception is located in the logical continuation of the pathway.
Horizontal circulation
  • The dangerous objects in the pathway are secured.
  • Circulation is free from obstacles.
Vertical circulation
  • A lift serves all the floors open to the public.
  • The staircases have at least one handrail.
Exposition
  • Adapted guided tours are organised upon reservation.
  • An audio description is available.
  • A significant part of the exhibition content is adapted (touch, smell, hearing).

Points of attention

Entrance
  • The doorbell or the entrance device are hard to find.
  • The staff does not see the persons who arrive and can‘t offer assistance.
Vertical circulation
  • The staircases do not have handrails.

Strong points

Entrance
  • The entrance is located in the logical continuation of the pathway.
Home
  • A reference person is present to accompany the persons with special needs.
  • The reception is in a quiet environment.
Horizontal circulation
  • Circulation is free from obstacles.
  • The dangerous objects in the pathway are secured.
  • The furniture contrasts with its environment.
Vertical circulation
  • A lift serves all the floors.
  • The lift can be used in autonomy or staff is available to help.
  • The lighting is sufficient and continuous in the staircases.
  • The floor numbers are clearly indicated at each landing.
Exposition
  • An audio-guide is available and adapts itself automatically to the visitor‘s progress.
  • Adapted guided tours are organised upon reservation.

Points of attention

Entrance
  • There is no device allowing the identification of the entrance.
  • The doorbell or entrance device is hard to find.
  • The staff does not see the persons who arrive and can‘t offer assistance.
Home
  • The staff does not see the persons coming into the building and cannot assist them.
Vertical circulation
  • The staircases do not have handrails.

Strong points

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 by email.
  • The auditory information is backed up visually.
  • The rates are displayed in the reception.
  • The premises are easy to understand.
Wireless
  • Wi-Fi is free and available anywhere in the building.
Vertical circulation
  • The floors of the building are well marked.
Exposition
  • A significant part of the exhibition content is adapted (touch, smell, sight).
  • There are interactive terminals with French subtitles.
  • The films and videos are subtitled.
  • A Visio guide in Belgian French sign language is available.

Strong points

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 by email.
  • The auditory information is backed up visually.
  • The rates are displayed in the reception.
  • The premises are easy to understand.
Exposition
  • The presented works are explained in an simple and easily understandable way.
  • The lighting is sufficient and allows lip reading.
  • An audio-guide with adjustable volume is available.
  • An audio-guide with headset and adjustable volume is available.

Strong points

Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to find.
  • The building is easy to find.
  • There is a doorbell near the door.
Home
  • The reception is calm.
  • The reception is easy to find and close to the entrance.
  • It is possible to pay in cash (coins and notes).
Vertical circulation
  • The floors of the building are well marked.
  • The lift is easy to use or staff is available to help.
  • The lighting is sufficient and continuous in the staircases.
  • The stair steps are contrasting.
  • The staircases are equipped with at least one secure handrail.
Adapted sanitary
  • The toilets are easy to find.
Exposition
  • The exhibition is varied (touch, smell, sight, hearing).
  • There are interactive terminals.

Points of attention

Entrance
  • The staff does not see the persons who arrive.
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.