Tomorrowland and Gentse Feesten step up accessibility efforts
Belgium's festivals draw thousands of visitors every year, but for people with disabilities, attending can be a logistical challenge. In response, festival organisers at Tomorrowland and Gentse Feesten are increasingly making efforts to improve accessibility and inclusion.
Tomorrowland
As one of the biggest electronic music festivals in the world, Tomorrowland attracts fans from every corner of the globe. Organisers are making sure that those with disabilities can enjoy the festivities as well.
Accessibility has been carefully integrated into the festival’s infrastructure. Visitors with a valid blue parking card are offered parking close to the main entrance, where a lift is available to ease entry. Those with disabilities may also bring two companions through the same entrance, provided they hold a valid Tomorrowland bracelet.
Guide dogs are welcome on-site and must be clearly recognisable. To further ensure comfort, adapted toilets can be found throughout the festival grounds and in DreamVille, the dedicated camping area, including in the Aqua Care zone, Easy Tent Area and Montagoe.
Navigation across the festival grounds has been improved with the installation of wooden flooring and concrete paths. Stewards are stationed to assist visitors with access to key areas such as the CORE stage and Mainstage Comfort Area.
Gentse Feesten
In medieval cities like Ghent, cobblestones, parked cars on pavements and narrow streets can severely limit mobility for wheelchair users. Recognising these obstacles, the city has made notable efforts this year to make the Gentse Feesten more inclusive.
Wheelchair platforms have been set up at four major sites: Korenmarkt, Boomtown, St Bavo's Square and St Jacob's Square. These provide elevated views for wheelchair users and others with limited mobility.
Ghent is also offering practical support: dedicated parking spots have been added closer to the action, and wheelchair-friendly transportation is available between 7:00 AM and 1:00 AM daily. A bicycle taxi service can take individuals with limited mobility to and from the festival zone until midnight, and a free companion service can be requested to assist attendees as they navigate the event.
The city is also prioritising cultural accessibility. Each day features at least one accessible performance, whether that means a wheelchair-accessible venue, surtitles for the hearing impaired or audio descriptions for the visually impaired.
Despite these advances, Ghent acknowledges that full accessibility remains a work in progress. The city’s layout presents structural barriers that require long-term planning to overcome.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO OLIVIER VIN
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