How it works

From a form to a walk, in two emails.

People ask us the same question first, so here it is answered plainly: yes, it is genuinely free, and there is nothing to buy at the end. What follows is everything that happens between sending a request and shaking someone’s hand.

You send a request

Nine fields: who you are, when you are here, how many of you, which language, and what you are curious about. It reaches a shared mailbox and you get an automatic confirmation in your own language straight away.

A coordinator matches you

A person reads it, not an algorithm. They look for a greeter who is free on your dates, speaks your language and cares about the same things you listed. You hear back from that person, including a no if we cannot cover the date.

You meet and walk

Your greeter proposes a meeting point, usually somewhere central and easy to find. Two to three hours later you part company, generally at a table. There is nothing to sign and nothing to pay.

What a greet is not

Not a guided tour.
Your greeter is an enthusiast, not a licensed guide. Expect opinions and detours rather than dates and monuments.
Not a fixed route.
Nothing is scripted. Say what interests you at the start and the walk shapes itself around it.
Not a tipping situation.
Please do not offer money. Greeters find it uncomfortable and it is against the rules they signed up to. Buying a coffee is welcome.

Practical matters

What to bring

Shoes you can walk cobbles in and something for rain. No tickets, no printouts, no cash.

If it rains

We walk anyway. This is not a dry country. If the weather turns genuinely unsafe your greeter will suggest a shorter route with more indoors in it.

Access and mobility

The old centre is cobbled and the Sint Pieter side is steep. Say what you need in the form and we match a flatter route and a greeter who knows it.

Languages

Between them our greeters cover Dutch, English, German, French and Limburgish. German and English are the most requested.

How far ahead

A week is comfortable, two days is often fine, tomorrow morning is a gamble. Everyone here is a volunteer, so weekends fill first.

If plans change

Tell us as early as you can and we will re-match or cancel. Greeters take a day off work for this sometimes.

Still reading? That is usually a yes.

Nine fields, no account, and a person reads every one.

Request a greet