Navigating European travel with MS: Challenges and considerations

My daughter and I recently traveled to Belgium for a weeklong vacation. We enjoyed centuries-old architecture, world-renowned art, diverse cultures, and, of course, lots of chocolate and beer, which the country is known for.

While Europe is rich in charm and history, much of its infrastructure was developed long before accessibility laws were implemented. That presented some challenges for me because of the gait disturbances and balance issues associated with my multiple sclerosis (MS).

My daughter and I visited Brussels, Bruges, and Ghent, all picturesque. Part of what makes these old European towns and city centers so beautiful are their historic layouts and features, including cobblestone streets, narrow sidewalks, steep inclines, lots of stairs, and uneven terrain. But for me, these charming environments quickly became somewhat stressful and physically demanding.

To avoid losing my balance and falling, I had to focus intently on walking and be vigilant about what was directly ahead of me. Because I was constantly looking down to navigate the uneven terrain, I missed out on a lot of sightseeing, as looking around while walking just wasn’t an option.

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Getting around the problems

I didn’t see many people using canes, walkers, or wheelchairs in these cities, which I thought was odd. My impression is that it’d be extremely difficult to navigate these places with a mobility aid, given all the barriers. It made me appreciate the accessibility standards in the United States, where I live.

It’s now tourist season in Belgium, so it’s crowded. Crowds are not specific to Europe; nevertheless, I found them challenging. Throngs of people tend to slow the walking pace, and I find that walking slowly makes me more unsteady and less likely to walk in a straight line. I felt like I was constantly bumping into people and apologizing.

Public transportation in Belgium is convenient and efficient, but it too presented me with some challenges. Some train stations I encountered didn’t have an elevator or escalator; at others, these were hidden well and not easily accessible. And the stations had a lot of stairs. Sometimes I’d climb or descend five flights before reaching the platform. I fell once on the stairs, but fortunately, I was going up, not down.

Getting off a train was also a little scary for me. It’s customary in Belgium to vacate your seat and move toward the doors before the train reaches its stop. That challenged me because of my balance issues; I felt extremely unsteady walking on a moving train. Fortunately, most rides were smooth, but I had several instances when the train movement unexpectedly became jerky, or when the train came to an abrupt stop.

Waiting to initiate the exit process until the train stopped was not an option, as I would’ve been a fish swimming upstream, given all the people getting on the train. I held on to the tops of seats while walking down the aisle and made sure I held on to something when I reached the holding area, in front of the doors. My daughter also helped me by carrying my bags and purse.

Public restrooms aren’t common in Belgium, so I had to plan my restroom stops in advance. I don’t have bladder issues associated with my MS, but this situation could be problematic for those who do. Typically, restrooms are available only to paying customers at cafes and restaurants. Anytime I stopped for a drink or a meal (or a Belgian waffle), I would take advantage of the restroom.

Here’s another issue with accessing restrooms: Many are upstairs — sometimes two flights up. I also frequently encountered spiral staircases in these establishments, which appeared to have been used as a residence at some point. Handrails were hit or miss. I was just extra careful in those situations.

Ultimately, my MS gait and balance disturbances did add a layer of complexity to my European travel, but they didn’t prevent me from experiencing all the wonderful things Belgium has to offer.

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