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Porte de Hal

The Porte de Hal is an ancient monument in the city of Brussels, Belgium. It was built in the 14th century and is one of the last vestiges of the city's medieval fortifications. 

The Hal Gate Museum is an ideal place to discover the history of Brussels and its fortifications. It also houses a collection of historical and artistic objects, such as weapons, armour, paintings and sculptures.

Box office and reception :

  • Tickets can be purchased at the reception desk or via an automatic ticket machine.

Toilets :

  • Adapted toilets are available in the basement. These toilets do not comply with accessibility standards.

Accessibility for people with reduced mobility (PRM) :

  • Access for wheelchair users is limited.
  • There is a step at the entrance to the building.
  • The lift to access the various floors is circular and has an axis of 120 cm, which may make it difficult for some wheelchair users to use.

Adapted tours :

  • Tours adapted for the visually impaired are organised.
  • There are no adapted tours for other visitors.

Strong points

Identification
  • The building is easy to find.

Points of attention

Staff
  • There is no reference person to accompany the persons with special needs.
Safety
  • The signage is not adapted and does not make it possible to orient oneself easily.
  • There is no adapted plan of the premises.

Access to floors and exhibition rooms : A large 19th-century staircase, a historic architectural feature, leads to the various floors. In addition, a lift has been installed to replace an old winding staircase (also from the 19th century). This lift serves all three levels of the exhibition rooms.

Although the lift is present, it does not meet accessibility standards. Its installation in the old revolving stairwell has constrained its shape: it is circular and its axis is 120 cm, which can make it difficult, if not impossible, for some people in wheelchairs or with mobility difficulties to use.

Access to the panorama and attic : Unfortunately, access to the panorama and attic is only possible via the staircase.

Strong points

Parking
  • It is possible to drop a person off near the entrance.
Access road from the street
  • Most of the transit areas are sufficiently large.
Entrance
  • The building is easy to identify.
  • The entrance is easy to identify.
Home
  • The payment device is easy to use.
  • The free space in front of the counter is sufficiently big.
Vertical circulation
  • There is a lift.

Points of attention

Parking
  • There is no car park.
Entrance
  • There is a step in the entrance.
  • There is no doorbell at the entrance and the staff does not see the persons wanting to enter.
Home
  • The counter is too high.
Horizontal circulation
  • There are several steps to negotiate.
Vertical circulation
  • The lift does not serve all the floors open to the public.
  • The depth of the lift car measures less than 130 cm.
Adapted sanitary
  • There is an adapted toilet, but it is difficult to use.

Access to floors and exhibition rooms : A large 19th-century staircase, a historic architectural feature, leads to the various floors. In addition, a lift has been installed in place of an old winding staircase (also from the 19th century). This lift serves all three levels of the exhibition rooms.

Although the lift is present, it does not meet accessibility standards. Its installation in the old revolving stairwell has constrained its shape: it is circular and its axis is 120 cm, which can make it difficult, if not impossible, for some people in wheelchairs or with mobility difficulties to use.

Access to the panorama and attic : Unfortunately, access to the panorama and attic is only possible via the staircase.

Strong points

Parking
  • It is possible to drop a person off near the entrance.
Access road from the street
  • The floor is regular and free of obstacles.
Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to identify.
  • The building is easy to identify.
  • There is a step lower than 18 cm in the entrance.
Adapted sanitary
  • There is a toilet with grab bars and it is easy to use.
Exposition
  • There are seats in every space of the exhibition.

Points of attention

Entrance
  • There is no doorbell at the entrance and the staff does not see the persons wanting to enter.
Home
  • There are no seats near the reception.
Horizontal circulation
  • There is a step higher than 18 cm to negotiate.
  • The width of the hallways is insufficient.
Vertical circulation
  • There is a handrail on one side of the staircases only.
  • The staircases are not secure.
  • The lift does not serve all the floors open to the public.
  • The width of the lift door measures less than 80 cm.
Exposition
  • Due to the configuration of the premises, a part of the content is difficult to access.

Strong points

Guide dog
  • Assistance dogs are accepted.
Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to identify.
Home
  • The reception is located in front of the entrance.
  • The reception is in a quiet environment.
  • The reception has no glass partition.
Vertical circulation
  • The staircases have at least one handrail.
Exposition
  • Adapted guided tours are organised upon reservation.

Points of attention

Access road from the street
  • There are no guide-lines.
Entrance
  • There is no doorbell at the entrance and the staff does not see the persons wanting to enter.
Vertical circulation
  • The staircases are not secured by warning tiles at their top.

Strong points

Access road from the street
  • Circulation is free from obstacles.
Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to identify.
  • The entrance is located in the logical continuation of the pathway.
Home
  • The reception is located in front of the entrance.
Horizontal circulation
  • Circulation is free from obstacles.
Vertical circulation
  • The lift can be used in autonomy or staff is available to help.
  • The staircases are equipped with at least one secure handrail.
Exposition
  • Adapted guided tours are organised without reservation.

Points of attention

Entrance
  • There is no doorbell at the entrance and the staff does not see the persons wanting to enter.
Home
  • There is no reference person to accompany the persons with special needs.
Horizontal circulation
  • The glass walls and doors are not secured by a contrasting visual marking.
  • There is at least one non-secured step in the logical pathway.
Vertical circulation
  • The floor numbers are not clearly indicated at each landing.
Exposition
  • The written explanations are hard to read.
  • There is no visitor guide in large characters.
  • An audio-guide is available, but does not adapt itself automatically to the visitor‘s progress.
Lack of signage : When the lift doors open, there is no indication of which floor you are on.

Access to the panorama and attic : Unfortunately, access to the panorama and attic is only possible via the staircase. There is also a lack of signage.

Strong points

Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to find.
  • The building is easy to find.
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.
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.

Points of attention

Entrance
  • There is no doorbell.
Home
  • There is no information available in sign language.
  • The rates are not displayed in the reception.
Vertical circulation
  • It is difficult to know on which floor one is.
Exposition
  • There is no easy to read support.
  • There are no organised guided tours in sign language.

Audioguide : An audioguide is available, but it is not connected to an induction loop.

Lack of signage : When the lift doors open, there is no indication of the floor.

Access to the panorama and attic : Unfortunately, access to the panorama and attic is only possible via the staircase. There is also a lack of signage.

Strong points

Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to find.
  • The building is easy to find.
Home
  • The reception is located in a quiet environment.
  • The reception is open, well lit and allows lip reading.
  • The reception is easy to find and close to the entrance.
Light
  • The lighting is sufficient and allows lip reading.
Exposition
  • The environment is calm.
  • The displayed content is mainly visual.

Points of attention

Entrance
  • There is no doorbell.
  • The staff does not see the persons who arrive.
Vertical circulation
  • It is difficult to know on which floor one is.

Lack of signage : When the lift doors open, there is no indication of which floor you are on.

Access to the panorama and attic : Unfortunately, access to the panorama and attic is only possible via the staircase. There is also a lack of signage.

Strong points

Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to find.
  • The building is easy to find.
Home
  • The reception is calm.
  • The reception is easy to find and close to the entrance.
Vertical circulation
  • The staircases are equipped with at least one secure handrail.
Horizontal circulation
  • The location is calm and well lit.
Adapted sanitary
  • The toilets are easy to find.

Points of attention

Entrance
  • There is no doorbell.
  • The staff does not see the persons who arrive.
Home
  • Payment only by bank card.
Vertical circulation
  • It is difficult to know on which floor one is.
  • The stair steps are not contrasting.
Exposition
  • No adapted guided visits are organised.
  • There is no easy to read support.
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.