belgium beer travel guide

Everything You Need to Plan Your Belgium Beercation

words: Cat Wolinski

photography: Cat Wolinski and Patrick Phillips

“In Italy, being a gondolier is a family tradition. In Belgium it’s brewing beer.”

Such is the introduction on the website for Belgian Family Brewers, a non-profit association representing small Belgian beer makers.

If you love beer, you already know you’re destined for a trip to Belgium. The country’s beautifully distinct brews, scented with yeast-driven spice and aromas of clove, pepper, and banana, are a huge source of inspiration for contemporary American craft brewing. Wherever your Belgium travels take you, there will be delicious beer to drink. Flanked by France and the Netherlands, the less-than-12,000-square-mile nation has more than 200 breweries, many of which date back centuries .

At last count , Belgium was home to 224 breweries, up from 160 in 2013. One hundred years ago there were close to 3,500 .

Driven by families, farmers, and Flemish monks during the Middle Ages , Belgium’s brewing culture is rooted in tradition yet still exciting. Here, we highlight a handful of our favorite places to eat, drink, and be Belge in Antwerp, Brussels, and Poperinge. From modern bars like Moeder Lambic to preserved public houses dating to the 1700s, each estaminet (as bars in Brussels are called ) you visit is well worth your time.

Look out for language swaps between French ( brasserie, bière, fromage ) and Dutch ( brouwerij, bier, kaas ), and a penchant for puppets, statues, and dolls.

In this ancient city, religious customs and beer customs intertwine.

Fall travelers might want to kick off at the Modeste Bier Festival held at Brouwerij De Koninck each year. Currently scheduled for Oct. 6-7, 2018, the festival highlights only small, independently owned Belgian brewers. After De Koninck, you won’t have to go far to hit Antwerp’s best beer spots.

Kathedraal Cafe (Cathedral Cafe)

A bar and restaurant that takes its name — and decor inspiration — from the towering Cathedral of Our Lady, a Roman Catholic church constructed between 1352 and 1521. Along with its astounding floor-to-high-ceiling collection of religious statues, Kathedraal offers a traditional menu of strong Belgian ales and hearty plates spanning spare ribs to spaghetti Bolognese (a Belgian staple, to our delight).

Blauwmoezelstraat 11, 2000 Antwerpen

Abby No. 8 Antwerp (Belgian Beers & Brews)

Steps away from the Kathedraal is this charming, curated shop with beer selections, including standbys like Duvel (but this time, it’s brewed a few miles away!) and rare finds like one-offs from Fantome. Don’t be shy about asking the proprietor for advice; he speaks English and can help you find just what you need.

Handschoenmarkt 8, 2000 Antwerpen

Do not leave Antwerp without going to Kulminator. You will not experience magic like this anywhere else. In this organized mess, an elderly couple has amassed a lifetime of rare, old, and discontinued Belgian beers. While Mister crunches numbers behind a towering pile of papers (using a magnifying glass!), Missus takes your order on a coaster covered in scribbles, and yet, somehow, they’ll still descend into their dusty cellar to procure that 1987 lambic you picked out from a brewery that no longer exists. There aren’t many places on this earth you can drink a beer as old, or older, than you.

Vleminckveld 32, 2000 Antwerpen

The bustling capital is as gritty as it is magical.

Arguably the most adored brewery in the world, and at least the producer of many of the most highly regarded lambic, gueuze, faro, and kriek anywhere, Brasserie Cantillon is a pilgrimage point for beer geeks the world over. The family-owned business is literally a museum to gueuze, where the Van Roy-Cantillon family still uses the same equipment their ancestors have been using since 1900. Take a self-guided tour within its wooden walls, copper equipment (and famous coolship), and rows of sleeping, insect-encrusted barrels.

Rue Gheude 56, 1070 Anderlecht

Moeder Lambic

Yes, there are many places that serve great beer in Brussels, but none are quite like Moeder Lambic. Opened in 2006, Moeder Lambic became a fast favorite among those who are serious about their beer — which, in Belgium, is a lot of people — but still like to party, Brussels-beer-bar-style. That means great local beers, proper glassware, and cheese and meat plates. Rather than pretzels or peanuts, the complimentary bar snacks are little bowls of malted barley. Très Belgique.

Original location: Rue de Savoie (Savoiestraat) 68, 1060 Saint-Gilles;  Second location: Place Fontainas 8, 1000 Bruxelles

Fancy yourself a slow-cooked bowl of ramen, crispy gyoza, and streetside views of the historic Brussels city center? You can do that and have your Belgian beer, too, at Umamido. The Japanese ramen shop has multiple locations in Brussels and Antwerp, each with a menu that’s intentionally short and sweet. Shoyu ramen, miso tonkotsu ramen, and even a vegetarian option source products from Japan as well as local Belgian farms.

Rue Henri Maus 33-47

Brasserie de la Senne

Yvan De Baets, brewmaster, is famous among beer industry followers for his attention to detail and delicately expressed beers (Zinnebir, a golden blonde ale , is a popular pick; we’re also partial to the even lighter blonde, Taras Boubla).

This brewery is definitely off the beaten path — in fact, you might get some funny looks when you arrive — but don’t let that dissuade you. Servers are sweet, the beers are exciting, and you may even get a taste of something that’s not in regular rotation — something as rare, perhaps, as your presence there.

Chaussée de Gand 565, 1080 Molenbeek-Saint-Jean

Bier Circus!

This wacky yet classy circus-themed bar and restaurant combines a silly theme with a serious beer list. Like peoples’ affinity for clowns, the beers in the cellar here are rare, old, and alluring (10-year-old Orval? Yes, please). Adding to the impressive selection of Trappist, farmhouse, and myriad other Belgian ales (which will each be poured exquisitely in their appropriately branded glassware, mind you) is the food menu. Go Bolognese or go home.

Rue de l’Enseignement 57, 1000 Bruxelles

Poechenellekelder (The Puppet Cellar)

A popular spot for tourists due to its proximity to Manneken Pis (a famous statue of a peeing boy and a Belgian icon that people crowd to photograph like it’s the Mona Lisa), this quirky destination is worth a visit. Traditional, authentic, and definitely Belgian (they love stuffing bars with weird human figures and kitschy paraphernalia!), you won’t mind the din in this friendly estaminet. The sense of humor pairs nicely with a nightcap (or midday booster), and a selection of Belgian cheeses and meats (and did we mention Bolognese?) will tide you over until your next Belgian waffle.

Rue du Chêne 5, 1000 Bruxelles

BrewDog Brussels

Looking for a place to plug in? BrewDog has a huge, sleek space steps from Bruxelles Central train station (Gare de Bruxelles-Central, near the Grand Place). Here, you’re as likely to see stylish locals sunken into loveseats on their laptops as you are the after-work crowd pounding a few pints on the deck looking out over the city. With 40 taps featuring BrewDog beers along with local favorites, and bar snacks like, yes, more cheese, it’s an easy place to unwind and figure out your next move.

Putterie 20, 1000 Bruxelles

Delirium Cafe

Best enjoyed in a delirious state, this hot spot should definitely be on your bucket list, but doesn’t necessitate a long stay — unless you’re with a rowdy crew. While not necessarily psychosis-inducing, the bustling mix of Belgian and foreign crowds fighting their way to the bar can be dizzying. But the sheer experience of earning that next pint, your body wedged within the collage of friends, breweriana, and Delirium’s signature pink elephants — not to mention thousands of beers (at last count: 3,162 ) — makes it interesting. There are several Delirium Village locations, but this one’s spot on a cramped cobblestone passage makes it extra inviting.

Impasse de la Fidélité 4, 1000 Bruxelles

3 Fonteinen

Adventurous travelers should consider a day trip to Beersel, where beer geek favorite, 3 Fonteinen (affectionately called “drie”) sits in a quiet suburb and makes some of the best gueuze in the world. Recently rebuilt, the brewery offers a tasting room, shop, and tours every day except Wednesday. Reserve in advance.

For the real experience, though, go to the restaurant . Preciously unpretentious (on a typical afternoon, your dining companions will be well into their 70s, and we dare you to keep up with their drinking), you’ll pair a glistening pork chop or plump salmon steak with the waiter’s recommended gueuze, and you’ll never forget it.

Herman Teirlinckplein 3, 1650 Beersel 

Poperinge is the capital of hops in Belgium.

It’s home to the country’s hop fields, annual hop parade, and Saint Sixtus Abbey, maker of the world-renowned Westvleteren beers. In Watou, a village on the border of the Flemish-French countryside, head to Saint Bernardus, whose monk-adorned brews you’ve likely seen if you’ve set foot in any Belgian-themed bar stateside. From there, a stroll into town is worth the magnificent views, cow sightings, stunning sunsets, and silence like you’ve never felt (save for the occasional potato truck). Bars in the town square seem stuck in time, but you’ll be fed with the friendly, albeit standoffish hospitality of an old Dutch gasthaus .

Hopmuseum Poperinge

An entire museum devoted to hops! If you’re one to geek out over these flavor flowers, visit this historical building where Belgian hops were born. Audio tours explore hops’ history in the region and how Poperinge’s fertile soil and hop-loving monks shaped the city and Belgian culture as a whole. Look up — you’ll meet the Hop Devil himself, in wicker form, devilish male organs included. Downstairs, you can see and sniff hops in dizzying varieties.

Gasthuisstraat 71, B-8970 Poperinge

Struise Brouwers

The juxtaposition of this badass brewery’s skull-adorned brand and schoolhouse locale is unique, to say the least. So, too, are its brutal brews, which span the famous Pannepot, a strong ale sought for its many vintages, plus stouts so strong they’re technically illegal in the U.S. De Struise beers — and its brewery, once voted the best in the world — aren’t easy to find, so head here for the novelty and stay for the quirky personality of its founder, Carlo Grootaert, who might be the one tugging the taps.

Kasteelstraat 50, 8640, Oostvleteren

Abbey de St. Sixtus / In de Vrede Cafe

Beer pilgrims flock here to get their hands on Westvleteren 12, considered by many critics the best beer in the world. Don’t expect to bring any home with you, though, unless you’ve made an appointment well in advance (find the phone number and a detailed explanation  here ) and have a car prepped ahead of time. Brewery tours aren’t an option, either. Still, you can wrap your lips around the good stuff in de vrede (“in peace”) in the public cafe, located in the abbey’s modern courtyard situated beside a stunning cornfield stretching off to the horizon.

Donkerstraat 13, 8640 Vleteren

St. Bernardus 

Westvleteren seekers might consider skipping St. Sixtus for a more immersive experience at St. Bernardus, the nearby, non-Trappist brewery that brewed Westvleteren for St. Sixtus for 30 years until the contract ended, for Trappist reasons, in 1992. (And basically still makes the same beer.) It’s not a Trappist brewery, so any monks you see on beers here are pure marketing.

Legendary in its own right, St. Bernardus is open to the public with tours and tastings. It also houses B&B Brouwershuis, a beautifully romantic and welcoming bed and breakfast (“brewers house”) in a remote landscape that is difficult to describe. Creepy dolls in the room? You bet.

Trappistenweg 23, 8978, Watou

Published: July 23, 2018

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• wbs_cat Beer, wbs_type Belgian Ale, wbs_type Gueuze, wbs_type Lambic, wbs_brand 3 Fonteinen, wbs_brand Cantillon, wbs_brand De La Senne, wbs_brand Delirium, wbs_brand St. Bernardus, wbs_brand Struise Brouwers, beer, beer travel, belgium, Travel
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A beginner's guide to Belgian beer

Jun 2, 2022 • 8 min read

The world of Belgian beer is vast – here's a beginner's guide to enjoying Belgium's renowned brews © Kit Leong / Shutterstock

Belgian beer is world-renowned –  Belgium is the only country whose beer culture is inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.  

This small nation is home to the biggest brewery in the world, as well as tiny, independent operations located on farmsteads, in old factories, and in cave-like casemates. “In Belgium, the magistrate has the dignity of a prince,” wrote Belgian poet Émile Verhaeren. “But by Bacchus, it is true that the brewer is king.” 

So what makes Belgian beer so special? Let's dive in. 

A brief history of Belgian beer – and three reasons why it’s so famous

Belgium’s brewing landscape evolved across rural farmland, small towns and monasteries, mushrooming around communities and instilling a resistance to the mass production techniques that took hold much more quickly in neighboring countries. Here are some of the reasons Belgium’s local beer culture evolved into a global phenomenon: 

To Belgium’s west is France and its myriad winemakers, from whom Belgian brewers absorbed knowledge about the microbiological benefits of oak aging in large foeders. To the country's east lies  Germany , where technical proficiency in lager fermentation and yeast management influenced quality control in Belgian brewing. And to the north, just across the channel, sits  England , influencing both brewing and hop growing in Belgium, particularly after WWI.

This mishmash of influences (and the fact that Belgium has been ruled by various regimes) encouraged Belgians to develop practical workarounds and create new and unique beers.

Regionality

Despite its relatively small size, Belgium's beer diversity impresses even the most experienced brewheads. This begs the question, why so many regional specialities? In the early to mid-19th century, the average Belgian brewery was very small, mostly because there was a tax incentive to remain so. Rather than packaging beer, they were selling beer from wooden barrels directly to consumers in their own pubs. 

In 1845, there were 3089 breweries in Belgium – today, there are just around 380. As a result, production and consumption has stayed local, preserving distinctive varieties of yeast and maintaining the unique character of a town’s beer style. This limited reach is the reason why Lambic beer is still found in the Pajottenland and the Senne Valley, why Oud Bruin production remains strongest in South West Flanders and why Saison is still most associated with the province of Henegouwen.

Ingredients and process

Belgian yeasts kick off a pronounced range of flavor and aroma compounds when compared to yeasts from other countries. Because of these compounds, Delirium Tremens evokes the essence of pears and oranges, Chimay Bleue tastes like figs and prunes, and Sint Bernardus Wit embraces the zest of pepper and clove. 

And Belgians are not afraid to add flavors to their beer, either, whether it entails emptying their spice cabinet of bitter orange, coriander and grains of paradise, or throwing in fruits such as cherries, raspberries, or apricots. 

Glassware in Belgium: the theater of Belgian beer

Presentation functions as a key element of Belgian beer culture, particularly when it comes to glassware – it’s one part marketing, one part theater, and one part attempt to maximize the beer experience. From goblet to tulip and from shaker to stange, a lot goes into the decision: the level of alcohol, desired serving temperature, aromatic qualities, level of carbonation, and handling dynamics.

There are also practical considerations: how easy a glass is to clean, how “stackable” it is, and of course, how much it costs. The resulting array of available glassware includes beauties like the bulbous Kasteel chalice from Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck in Izegem, the ridged Ronceva stem of Palm’s Cornet glass, or the curvaceous, inwardly tapered vase of Brugge Tripel.

One innovative feature that has become increasingly popular in Belgian glassware is the nucleation point, an etched mark on the bottom of the inside of the glass that helps release the carbonation by creating a steady stream of bubbles emanating from the nucleated pattern to the top of the beer. Take a moment to notice these bespoke nucleation designs at the bottom of the next glass of Belgian beer you drink. But figure out a way to remove the beer from the glass first.

The seven styles of Belgian beer

Belgium has a rich and diverse line-up of indigenous beer styles. While there are many variations within each one – and much over-lapping between them – certain widely regarded traditional categories help drinkers understand what to expect from a beer’s flavor profile:

1. Abbey-style or monastic ale

There are six Trappist breweries in Belgium, all brewing different styles of beer (Belgian Pales Ales, Tripels, Dubbels, Quadrupels, etc). “Trappist” is not a style, then, but an appellation tied to the fact that brewing takes place inside the walls of a Cistercian Abbey under the supervision of monks, with the proceeds of beer sales going back to the community. These beers have inspired a whole wave of “Abbey beers,” often bottle-conditioned ales with pronounced yeast profiles, high carbonation, and plenty of alcohol. Many are produced by commercial breweries and have no affiliation with an Abbey, although some breweries license the name from a monastery. 

Abbey-style of monastic ales to try: Westmalle Tripel ( 9.5% ABV, Brouwerij Westmalle ) Trappist Westvleteren 8 Dubbel ( 8% ABV, Brouwerij Westvleteren ) Orval Trappist Ale ( 6.9% ABV, Brasserie d’Orval )

2. Blond and golden strong ales

Belgian Blond Ales have a subtle citrus and spice yeast complexity, with a degree of malty sweetness and a soft finish. Golden Strong Ales share these yeast flavors and malty mouthfeel but often showcase more hop character, more alcohol, drier finishes, and even more intense carbonation. 

Blond and golden strong ales to try: Ename Blond ( 6.6% ABV, Brouwerij Roman ) Omer ( 8%, Brouwerij Omer Vanderghinste ) Duvel ( 8.5% ABV, Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat )

Saisons are a family of refreshing, dry, hoppy, and fairly bitter Belgian ales. They’re often highly carbonated, with aromas and flavors of citrus and pepper. Saisons are “provision” ales from Wallonia , the southern region of Belgium. While the origin story to Saison has been disputed, some claim that the beers were produced as an economic necessity for farms who had to retain and occupy their saisonnière  (seasonal) workers during the off-season – those saisonnières brewed during the winter and quenched their thirst with the beers in the summer as they toiled the land.

Saisons to try: Saison Dupont ( 6.5% ABV, Brasserie Dupont ) Saisonneke Extra ( 4.4% ABV, Brouwerij Belgoo ) La Saison d'Epeautre ( 6% ABV, Brasserie De Blaugies )

4. Spéciale Belge  

Created during an early-1900s competition to come up with a regional specialty beer that competed with imported British ales and continental lagers, Spéciale Belges are malty, average-strength beers with a red or copper color. There’s a subtle fruitiness from the yeast and a bready (sometimes toasty) malt character, but overall they’re known to be well-balanced and easy-drinking.

Spéciale Belges to try: Bolleke De Koninck (5.2% ABV, Brouwerij De Koninck ) Palm Spéciale (5.2% ABV, Brouwerij Palm ) Spécial De Ryck (5.5% ABV, Brouwerij De Ryck )

5. Belgian wheat beers

Belgian wheat beers (also “white beers” or “witbiers”) are pale, hazy beers brewed using 30-60% of raw wheat. Coriander seed and dried Curaçao orange peel are often added to accentuate the mildly fruity-spicy character of the witbier yeast. Belgian wheat beers are delicate, moderate-strength ales known for their refreshing qualities during the summer.

Belgian wheat beers to try: Sint Bernardus Wit ( 5.5% ABV, Brouwerij Sint Bernardus ) Jan de Lichte ( 7.5% ABV, Brouwerij De Glazen Toren ) Ertvelds Wit ( 5% ABV, Brouwerij Van Steenberghe )

6. Oud Bruin

Oud Bruin is a family of reddish-brown or brown beers with a caramel-chocolate malt flavor and a red-fruit complexity. They are often both sweet and sour, and sometimes present with a dry, tannic finish like a vintage red wine.

Oud Bruins to try:   Rodenbach Vintage ( 7% ABV, Brouwerij Rodenbach ) Cuvée des Jacobins ( 5.5% ABV, Brouwerij Omer Vanderghinste ) Liefmans Goudenband ( 8% ABV, Brouwerij Liefmans )

7. Lambic beers

Lambic is a spontaneously fermented wheat beer aged on wood. No yeast is pitched by the brewer. Instead, the yeast and bacteria in the vicinity of the brewery transform it into beer. Lambics are blended into Geuzes to become very refreshing, highly carbonated, and pleasantly sour beers which are often complex, oaky, and fruity. Brewers commonly blend Lambic with fruit, particularly cherries, raspberries and apricots.

Lambic beers to try: 3 Fonteinen Oude Geuze ( 6% ABV, Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen ) Boon Kriek Mariage Parfait ( 8% ABV, Brouwerij Boon ) Fou’ Founne (Lambic with Bergeron Apricots) ( 5% ABV, Brasserie Cantillon )

Where to drink Belgian beer 

There are many great places to try Belgian beer across the country. 

Belgium hosts a beer festival almost every week of the year, too. If you can time it right, take in a traditional event ( Zythos , Bruges , or Belgian Beer Weekend ), sample a modern festival (Bxl Beer Fest or Billie’s ), or dive deep into the niche ( Oud Bruin Fest , Kerstbierfestival , Poperinge Hop and Beer Festival , or the Toer de Geuze ).

If you’re looking for recommendations of beer cafes, bottles shops, and breweries, check out our list of 25 great places to try beer in Belgium . Mount your bike, get in your car, or jump on a train, and discover the most fun, quirky and interesting places to drink in this country’s fantastic beer culture.

This article was first published Mar 2, 2010 and updated Jun 2, 2022.

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The Beginner’s Guide to Belgian Beer (Belgium Beer)

By: Author Sophie Nadeau

Posted on Last updated: 29th February 2024

Categories Belgium

Last Updated on 29th February 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

One of Belgium’s most famous exports is beer and many visitors head to the pint-sized country purely to try its local tipple. In this Belgium beer guide, I’ll delve into the history of beer in Belgium , as well as some of the types of Belgian beer and drinking etiquette. In fact, beer is so common in Belgium (and around the world!) , that it’s the third most popular drink in the world after water and tea.

If you’re planning on spending several days in the country, be sure to check out our perfect Belgium itinerary .

A history of beer in Belgium

Trappist monastery beer style, abbey beer style, interesting things to know about belgian beer, champagne beer.

For as long as recorded history, there’s evidence that people have brewed beer. Some of the oldest records of the brewing of beer date all the way back to 4000 BCE in Iran and also appears in written records from Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.

Similarly, beer has been brewed in the region that is now Belgium since before Belgium was even a country. In the past, people would have drunk more beer than water due to the unsanitary conditions of the water (though it should be noted that the alcohol percentage of these daily beers would have been very low).

The art of brewing in Belgium means that the Beer Culture of Belgium has been inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2016.

Belgian Beer styles

There are actually around 1500 separate beers in Belgium. For those who are looking to visualise them all in one place, the rather touristic, but admittedly still interesting beer wall at 2Be Beer in the heart of the city of Bruges .

The world-famous ‘beer wall,’ which allegedly includes every single type of Belgian beer, all in one place, on shelves set up against a wall. Though a little touristy, it’s well worth going to have a look at if you ever get the chance.

The two most famous types of beers from Belgium are the Trappist beers and the Abbey beers . Trappist beers are particularly unique in that they can only be called such if they are brewed in Trappist monasteries.

There are further stipulations in such that the beer must be brewed in the monastery, a monk must have some sort of say in the production, and the money from the sale of the beer must be used either for the monastery or for a social programme.

There are 169 Trappist breweries around the world, though only a handful have their own breweries. This means that there are currently only 11 Trappist breweries in existence, making it one of the most sought after beers in the world.

The seven original Trappist breweries are as follows; Achel, Chimay, Orval, Rochefort, Westmalle, and Westvleteren, all located in Belgium, and La Trappe, which is situated in the Netherlands. You’ll know if your beer is a Trappist one as it will have “Authentic Trappist Product” written on the label.

While there are many conditions surrounding the naming of a Trappist beer, the abbey style beer is much more common due to the fact that it only needs to be created in the style of; i.e. monastic or a monastic-style beer.

Since there are so many types of Abbey beers, they might be produced outside of a Trappist monastery, be a commercial brewery with some kind of agreement with an abbey, name their beer after a defunct abbey, or even given some sort of monastic branding without even giving the name of an abbey or monastery!

One of the most interesting things to know is that almost every beer has its own unique glass and the glass is designed to fit the entire bottle of beer in one go.

Bar tenders in Belgium take their roles seriously and might even apologise if it comes to their attention that beer has been served in a different glass than how it is intended to be served.

Depending on what kind of beer you have, it may or not foam, though typically there will be foam when you pour the beer. The ideal amount of foam to have for the average beer is two fingers worth of foam. The beer glass will also be designed so that it can fit these two fingers of foam without overflowing.

Belgian beer is entirely different from British beer in that it’s normal to be served your beer with the head (the foam top) . In the UK this is not the norm and all pint glasses served should be full to the brim with liquid and no foam.

The most common type of glass that beers are served in is the tulip glass. As you might imagine from the name, the glass bottom is round and then tapers towards the end. Meanwhile, flute-style glasses are often used for fruit beers in order to better display the colour and clarity of these types of beers.

Particularly unique beers in Belgium

One of the most unique beers that I sampled on a recent trip to Belgium is that of Champagne beer. Though I must warn you that none of our group actually enjoyed the beer (and the drink remained unfinished, even at the end of the evening) , it was rather interesting in that it was served together with a champagne flute.

Though more of a novelty for tourists than anything else, a particularly fun experience you can have in the city of Ghent is to swap your shoe for a beer. Yes, you read that correctly, one of the most unusual things to do in Ghent is give up your shoe for the evening!

Pub de Dulle Griet can be found on a square of the same name. The bar is open every day of the week and boasts the largest selection of Belgian beers in Ghent!

Not only will you soon discover that the shape of the glass is most unusual (and comes with its own little wooden stand) , but that in order to be given your tipple, you’ll need to hand over a shoe, which is then hung over the bar in a little metal cage! The bar is cash only.  Proost!

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Sophie Nadeau loves dogs, books, travel, pizza, and history. A Francophile at heart, she runs solosophie.com when she’s not chasing after the next sunset shot or consuming something sweet. She splits her time between Paris and London and travels as much as she can! Subscribe to Sophie’s YouTube Channel.

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Coming soon, subscribe here to be the first to know when we launch this, hop on this 3-day trappist tour to have the ultimate belgian beer experience in belgium.

Discover the history of the iconic Trappist beer in this 3-day itinerary.

If there’s something Belgium is famous for, that’s beer. 

This small country has approximately 304 active breweries, and we want to take you beer lovers on a tour for you to discover some of them. 

The main character of our itinerary will be the Trappist. Specifically, beer brewed by Trappists, also known as Cistercians monks. The Trappists originally brewed beer in order to be self-sufficient and feed their community. Nowadays, most Trappist breweries also fund charitable causes with revenues from beer sales. In most abbeys, the monks are no longer involved in the daily activities of the brewery, as it has become a modern business. 

However there’s still a very strict, specific set of criteria that the beer has to respect to be considered a Trappist. It must still be brewed within the walls of a Trappist monastery, and at least under the monks’ supervision.Since the rules are so strict, there are only 14 Trappist breweries in the world, and at least five of them are in Belgium (Achel used to be a Trappist brewery but since 2021 the monks have retired, so it lost its Trappist status). 

Yes, that’s how important beer is in Belgian culture! With more than 800 different varieties, the country has more diversity in beer styles than any other beer-producing region. That’s why, even if Trappist beer is the star of our tour, we can’t leave the side characters out: let us guide you to some lesser-known spots and discover stunning abbeys and historical buildings in the regions of Flanders and Wallonia.

Buckle up and get ready to discover the history of traditional beer knowledge passed through families and breweries for centuries.

Day 1: Westmalle Brewery, De Koninck brewery

We’ll definitely get off to a good start with the Westmalle Brewery. Located in the small Westmalle village, not far from Antwerp, this brewery and abbey date back to the early 18th century. Using barley malt, sugar, and yeast from the abbey's own culture, the monks have been brewing beer for over 180 years. But the special thing about Westmalle is that this was the very first Tripel beer in the world. The monks were the first to create it in the 1930s. 

The monks live a very private, secluded life, so the brewery is not open to visitors. However, you can take a 45-minute walk around the abbey and take a glimpse of the history of this special place. And after a long walk, shop or have a lovely meal at the Trappist Café nearby: the products made by the Trappistines might not be as famous as the beer, but your taste buds will thank you for trying the locally produced Westmalle cheese. There’s a wide choice: creamy, semi-hard two-month-old cheese with a buttery, mild taste, the stronger yet balanced six-month-old cheese, or the zesty, salty twelve-month-old cheese for those who prefer a more complex flavour.

The next place you definitely shouldn’t miss out on is De Koninck Brewery. Even if it’s not a Trappist abbey, this Antwerp-based brewery is worth a visit, trust us. Get ready for an immersive, audiovisual interactive tour in the world of beer-making. Driving through town in a vintage delivery van and exploring the brewery hall with your very own Bolleke glass are just a couple of the things you’ll get to experience. And since this is the last activity for the day, you can even combine the tour with a “meet the crafts” fun, and educational beer tasting to dive into the world of beer. You can also choose to pair the beer with some delicious food. Unfortunately, that’s only possible for groups of ten or more during the week, but you can have a tour with smaller groups if you go on Sundays. Don’t forget to make a reservation on the official website if you want to do that.

Day 2:  Duvel Moortgat brewery, Aulne abbey

The next brewery on our tour is Duvel Moortgat: this family-owned brewery was founded in 1871 by Jan-Leonard Moortgat, who descended from a family of brewers from Steenhuffel. 

Ever since then, the Moortgats have been brewing their famous golden ale and many more varieties of beer. 

Have a guided visit and discover more about the brewing process of the renowned devil beer. The visit includes two drinks and a small gift. You can also stop in the Café Depot Duvel nearby, but since it’s a long way to get to the next brewery, we recommend stopping in the shop to buy a couple of bottles to bring home or gadgets like glasses or bottle openers. 

For the next brewery, we’re heading to Wallonia, the French-speaking region in the south of the country, to go for a change of setting. Although beer is what we’re here for, you can’t skip a visit to the Aulne abbey . Not far from the city of Charleroi, the ruins of the abbey are nestled in the stunning nature of the quiet Vallée de la Paix (Valley of Peace) by the Sambre river .

The abbey has a fascinating history: the legend says that Saint Landelin, a repenting thief, founded it and named it Aulne after the trees of the area. French revolutionaries under Napoleon burnt the abbey down in 1794, but you can still walk its ruins, and marvel at the stunning view of this Walloon Heritage site. After the walk, it’s time to go back to your beer journey and delight your palate in the Brasserie de l’Abbaye d’Aulne , where the Aulne beer is brewed following the traditional brewing arts of the Cistercian monks.

Where to Stay in Thuin:

Budget - Auberge de l'Abbaye

Mid-range - Au vert chez Cécile

Luxury - Ferme du Pont de Bois - Le Fenil

Day 3:  Brasserie d’Orval, Brasserie d’Achouffe

The last  Trappist for our final  day: the historical Orval Trappist Brewery had to be a part of our itinerary. As you know by now, Trappist beer must be brewed by Cistercian monks… so you guessed it! There’s an Abbey to visit. There’s plenty to do and see here: the stunning 18th-century ruins, where nature and history meet in a perfect combination, the medicinal herb garden,  where you can admire lots of plants used by the monks for centuries for medicinal purposes a history museum, where the neoclassical buildings will transport visitors back to the past. The brewery is only open to visitors on special Open Door days. Alternatively, if you’re a big group, you can book a visit on the official website .

Don’t forget to drink a glass of beer along with immersing yourself in the history: this Trappist is made in the traditional Belgian way by re-fermenting in the bottle. But hold your horses! There’s still one brewery to visit, so don’t drink too much because there’s still a long way (and a lot more tasting) to do. Alternatively, you can taste and buy the locally made cheese at the nearby fromagerie.

Visiting this last brewery will feel like entering a fairytale. Created in the 1970s by brothers-in-law Pierre Gobron and Chris Bauweraerts in the Vallée des Fées (the Valley of the Fairies), the Brewery La Chouffe expanded its business throughout the years and gained success. That’s when the brothers-in-law decided to create a gnome character for every beer they made! Yes, cute little gnomes that you’ll find on the logos of each different Chouffe beer glass along the tour.

There’s a selection of 8 Belgian craft beers to choose from: from Blond beer to IPA, from dark to cherry flavour, there’s something for every palate. You’ll get a chance to taste 4 of them in their Auberge des Lutins (Gnome’s Inn), after the guided brewery tour. You can book a tour on the official website or join a last-minute tour on Sundays.

Where to Stay in Houffalize:

Budget - B&B La Source Houffalize

Mid-range - Hotel des Postes

Luxury - Maison-indi

Map of Belgium's Trappist beer experience

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updated 11.07.2023

Craft beer has been taking over the pub scene in recent years, with brews from the USA and UK competing with more established brands from across Europe. If you're a fan of small-batch beers you need to plan a trip to the place where everything began – Belgium . No matter which cities you visit, you'll discover that Belgian beer is big business for the locals and they take their brews very seriously. Remember, if you're planning a trip to Belgium, we can help. Get in touch to try our tailor-made travel service.

20 Belgian beers you need to try

Belgium's beer-making history goes back centuries and it's famous the world over as being a top beer country. Official estimates suggest that there are more than 700 beers currently in production in the pint-sized country, with the rarest and most precious given the same reverence as fine wine. With so much choice, menus can be confusing, but these top 20 Belgian beers will give your taste buds a treat.

And if you're ready to try them yourself, consider taking a food and beer tour in either Bruges or Brussels .

Travel ideas for Belgium, created by local experts

8 days  / from 2834 USD

The best of the Netherlands and Belgium

This trip will bring you the best of two countries: the Netherlands and Belgium. From the quaint streets, canals and windmills of Holland to beer and Belgium chocolate tasting in three beautiful Belgium cities. This trip has it all.

9 days  / from 3052 USD

Experience the Liberation Route in BeNeLux

Explore the path of the World War II Liberation Route through Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Visit important landmarks and museums on the way with this self drive itinerary, with enough time to explore cities such as Brussels and Rotterdam on the way.

10 days  / from 5668 USD

Taste of Three - Belgium, France and Switzerland

Start your journey in Belgium and explore Brussels, Ghent and Bruges. A high-speed train will then take you to Strasbourg, from where you'll discover the Alsace. Proceed to Basel as your base, from where you'll see plenty of Switzerland: Zermatt, Matterhorn, Mount Pilatus and much more.

1. Bush Beer (7.5% and 12%)

A Wallonian speciality, the Belgian brewery behind Bush claims that the original version is – at 12% – the strongest beer in Belgium. It tastes more like a barley wine and has a lovely golden colour and an earthy aroma. The 7.5% Bush is a tasty pale ale with a zip of coriander.

2. Brugse Straffe Hendrik (Blond 6.5%, Bruin 8.5%)

Straffe Hendrik, a smart little Belgian brewery located in the centre of Bruges , produces zippy, refreshing ales. Their Blond is a light and tangy pale ale, whereas the Bruin is a classic brown ale with a full body.

3. Chimay (red top 7%, blue top 9%)

Made by the Trappist monks of Forges-les-Chimay in southern Belgium, Chimay beers are widely regarded as being among the best in the world. Of the several brews they produce, these two are the most readily available, fruity and strong, deep in body, and somewhat spicy with a hint of nutmeg and thyme.

4. La Chouffe (8%)

Produced in the Ardennes , this distinctive beer is instantly recognizable by the red-hooded gnome (or chouffe) which adorns its label. It's a refreshing pale ale with a hint of coriander and it leaves a peachy aftertaste.

5. Corsendonk Pater Noster (5.6%)

The creation of Jef Keersmaekers, this bottled beer is easily the pick of the many Corsendonk brews. It is known for its Burgundy-brown colour and smoky bouquet.

6. Gouden Carolus (8%)

Named after – and allegedly the favourite tipple of – the Habsburg emperor Charles V, Gouden Carolus is a full-bodied dark brown ale with a sour and slightly fruity aftertaste. Brewed in the Flemish town of Mechelen .

7. Delirium Tremens (9%)

This popular spicy amber ale is the leading product of Ghent's Huyghe brewery. There are even Delirium-owned craft beer bars across Europe in cities including Brussels, Lisbon and Amsterdam – the Brussels branch has over 3,000 beers to try from around the world.

Delerium Tremens with its distinctive pink elephant label is a must-try Belgian beer @ Pixabay

8. De Koninck (5%)

Antwerp 's leading brewery, De Koninck, is something of a Flemish institution – and for some a way of life. Its standard beer, De Koninck, is a smooth, yellowish pale ale that is better on draft than in the bottle. Very drinkable and with a sharp aftertaste.

9. Lambic (Cantillon Lambik 5%, Lindemans Lambik 4%)

Specific to the Brussels area and representing one of the world's oldest styles of beer making, lambic beers are tart because they are brewed with at least thirty percent raw wheat as well as the more usual malted barley. The key feature is, however, the use of wild yeast in their production, a process of spontaneous fermentation in which the yeasts of the atmosphere gravitate down into open wooden casks over a period of between two and three years. Draught lambic is extremely rare, but it is served in central Brussels at A la Bécasse . The bottled varieties are often modified, but Cantillon Lambik is authentic, an excellent drink with a lemony zip. It is produced at the Cantillon brewery, in Anderlecht, which is home to the Gueuze Museum (see below). Lindemans Lambik is similar and a tad more commonplace.

10. Gueuze (Cantillon Gueuze Lambic 5%)

Another type of Belgian beer rather than an individual brew, gueuze is made by blending old and new lambic to fuel re-fermentation, with the end result being bottled. This process makes gueuze a little sweeter and fuller-bodied than classic lambic. Traditional gueuze can be hard to track down and you may have to settle for the sweeter, more commercial brands, notably Belle Vue Gueuze (5.2%), Timmermans Gueuze (5.5%) and the exemplary Lindemans Gueuze (5.2%).

11. Hoegaarden (5%)

The role model of all Belgian wheat beers, Hoegaarden – named after a small town east of Leuven – is light and extremely refreshing, despite its cloudy appearance. It is brewed from equal parts wheat and malted barley and is the ideal drink for a hot summer's day. The history of wheat beers is curious: in the late 1950s, they were so unpopular that they faced extinction, but within twenty years they had been taken up by a new generation of drinkers and are now extremely popular. Hoegaarden is as good a wheat beer as any.

Hoegaarden is easily recognisable for its distinctive octagonal glass © Marcel Bakker/Shutterstock

12. Kriek (Cantillon Kriek Lambic 5%, Belle Vue Kriek 5.2%, Mort Subite Kriek 4.3%)

Once again a type of beer rather than a particular brew, Kriek is made from a base beer to which cherries are added or, in the case of the more commercial brands, cherry juice and perhaps even sugar. It is decanted from a bottle with a cork, as with sparkling wine. The better examples are not too sweet and taste simply wonderful. Other fruit beers are available too, but Kriek is perhaps the most successful.

13. Kwak (8%)

This Flemish beer, the main product of the family-run Bosteels brewery, is not all that special – it's an amber ale sweetened by a little sugar – but it's served in dramatic style with its distinctive hourglass placed in a wooden stand.

14. Leffe (Leffe Brune 6.5%, Leffe Blond 6.6%)

Brewed in Leuven, just to the east of Brussels, Leffe is strong and malty and comes in two main varieties. Leffe Blond is bright, fragrant, and has a slight orangey flavour, whereas Leffe Brune is dark, aromatic and full of body. Very popular, but a little gassy for some tastes.

15. Orval (6.2%)

One of the world's most distinctive malt beers, Orval is made in the Ardennes at the Abbaye d'Orval, which was founded in the twelfth century by Benedictine monks from Calabria. This Belgian beer is a lovely amber colour, refreshingly bitter and makes a great aperitif.

A tasting flight is a great way to try multiple brews – especially when travelling in a group © Victor Wong/Shutterstock

16. Rochefort (Rochefort 6: 7.5%, Rochefort 8: 9.2%, Rochefort 10: 11.3%)

Produced at a Trappist monastery in the Ardennes, Rochefort beers are typically dark and sweet and come in three main versions: Rochefort 6, Rochefort 8, and the extremely popular Rochefort 10, which has a deep reddish-brown colour and a delicious fruity palate.

17. Rodenbach (Rodenbach 5%, Rodenbach Grand Cru 6.5%)

Located in the Flemish town of Roeselare, the Rodenbach brewery produces a reddish-brown ale in several different formats, with the best brews aged in oak containers. Their widely available Rodenbach (5%) is a tangy brown ale with a hint of sourness. The much fuller – and sourer – Rodenbach Grand Cru is far more difficult to get hold of but is particularly delicious.

18. Verboden Vrucht, or Forbidden Fruit (9%)

Forbidden Fruit is worth buying just for the label, which depicts a fig-leaf clad Adam offering the strategically covered Eve a glass of beer in the garden of Eden. The actual drink is dark and strong with a spicy aroma and has something of a cult following in Belgium. Produced by Hoegaarden.

19. Westmalle (Westmalle Dubbel 7%, Tripel 9%)

The Trappist monks of Westmalle, just north of Antwerp, claim their beers not only cure loss of appetite and insomnia but reduce stress as well. Whatever the truth, the prescription certainly tastes good. Their most famous beer, the Westmalle Tripel, is deliciously creamy and aromatic, while the popular Westmalle Dubbel is dark and supremely malty.

20. Westvleteren (Special 6°: 6.2%, Extra 8°: 8%)

Made at the abbey of St Sixtus in West Flanders, Westvleteren beers come in several varieties. These two are the most common, dark and full-bodied, sour with an almost chocolate-like taste.

Want to put your beer knowledge to the test? Try our world beer quiz .

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Belgian Beer Guide: Why Is It The Best Beer In The World?

Posted on Published: May 9, 2020  - Last updated: December 19, 2023

Categories Belgium , Europe

Discovering the world of Belgian beer can be a bit overwhelming at first. Belgium seems to be in a beer league of it’s own!

Belgian beer isn’t your plain old off-the-shelf beer. It’s all about complex and diverse flavour profiles that they needed to create categories for each unique Belgian beer style and drinking glasses!

Whether you’re planning a trip to Belgium , or just interested in the wonderful world of Belgian beer, here’s everything you need to know about Belgian beer!

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

You might also be interested in reading…

• Easy Traditional Belgian Liège Waffle Recipe You’ll Love

Beer In Belgium

Belgium and beer go hand in hand – you can’t have one without the other! I mean, they brew over 2000 different beers in more than 200 active breweries. And among them are some of the best beers in the world !

As it turns out Belgian’s drink the most beer per capita in the world (yup, even more than Germany!). They even have a specific way of serving and drinking beer (down to specific glasses for each type of beer).

What Makes Belgian Beer So Different?

Unlike German beer, Belgium doesn’t have any regulations on what ingredients you can use. For example, German beer can only contain water, hops, and malt and you can’t add anything else.

Take you beer tasting to the next level….

Explore beer flavours and aromas with my digital and printable beer tasting guide. See it on Etsy.

P.S. Get an additional discount on my Etsy shop with my code ATRLOVE .

Belgium has no such restrictions, you can add whatever you want! With such lax rules for beer in Belgium, you end up with a wide variety of options and flavours. In Belgium, you can find your regular I.P.A., stouts, and lagers, but you’ll also come across anything from sour beers to cherry beer… you name it, they have it!

Another characteristic typical with Belgian beer is their higher alcohol percentage. For the most part, the lowest you’ll find is around 6% and there’s really no limit.

Belgium Travel Guides

There’s A Beer For Everyone In Belgium!

Because there are so many types of beer in Belgium, and there are no rules to follow I guarantee there’s a beer for you in Belgium! Even if you’re not a fan of beer, Belgium will have the beer for you .

I swear, my friend who hates beer went to Belgium and found not one, not two, but THREE different beers she liked!

Understanding Belgian Trappist Beers

One of the main kinds of beer in Belgium (and one of the best) is what’s known as a Trappist beer. Unlike other Belgian beer, to be considered a Belgian Trappist beer, you must follow very strict rules.

Trappists are a Christian religious order that take part in specific industries to make a living. So to be a Trappist brewery, the beer has to be brewed at a monastery where monks play a role in its production. 

What I find most interesting though, is that they cannot profit from the sales of the beer. Any money they make can only be used to support the monastery. They sell their products simply to be self-sustainable.

Build & Track Your Beer Journey

Refine your beer tasting palette with my digital and printable Beer Tasting Sheets to record and take notes on every new tea you try.

P.S. Get an additional discount on my Etsy shop with my code ATRLOVE !

There are only 10 Trappists Breweries around the world, 6 of those are in Belgium : Achel, Orval, Scourmont-Lez-Chimay, Rochefort, Westmalle, and Westvleteren ( p.s. this is apparently the best beer in the world… more on that in a bit! ). You have another two in the Netherlands, one in Austria, and one in the U.S.

Trappists don’t only make beer; some farm mushrooms, make soaps or cleaning products. Read more about the Trappist lifestyle here .

Belgian Beer Styles: Dubbel, Tripel, Vs. Quadrupel

There are three main categories of beer in Belgium: dubbel, tripel and quadrupel. They differ in alcohol percentage and flavour.  

What Is A Belgian Dubbel?

A Belgian dubbel (meaning double) is exactly what it sounds like. It’s doubling the alcohol percentage of a regular beer. So if a normal beer is anywhere from 3% to 5% alcohol, a dubbel can be anywhere from 6% to 9%.

I love a good dubbel! Aside from doubling the alcohol, they’re also characterized by their dark brown colour. They look the least inviting, but you can’t always judge a dubbel by its colour.

Despite their dark colour, you’d think they’d be the strongest Belgian beer, but they’re actually the sweetest. The scary dark brown colour comes from caramelizing Belgian candi sugar. These sweet flavours take over the bitter hops, leaving only a moderate bitterness. 

So, if you’ve never been a fan of IPAs; try a Belgian dubbel, you might just fall in love, like I did! Plus, everyone’s always impressed when they see you drinking an almost black beer (shows you how much they know!).

What Is A Belgian Tripel?

Unlike a dubbel, a Belgian tripel doesn’t get darker with their stronger alcohol percentage. Belgian tripels are a shocking light amber colour at about 7.5% to 10% alcohol.

Instead of caramelizing candi sugars, they’re brewed with three times more pilsner malts than normal. And unlike those deliciously sweet Belgian dubbels, Belgian tripels are more about the bitter and spiced flavours.

I tend not to like tripels, since I find they often taste a lot like IPAs. Although some will surprise me by being on the more citrusy side of the flavour profile.

Even though a Belgian tripel might look the most inviting, they are quite high in alcohol. So, it’s important not to forget that drinking one Belgian tripel is like drinking 2 to 3 regular beers!

What Is A Belgian Quadrupel?

A Belgian quadrupel has the least restrictive guidelines out of any Belgian beer style. They pretty much include anything with an alcohol percentage above 10%. Fun, right?

Surprisingly, they fall in the middle of the colour scheme. Not as dark as a Belgian dubbel, but darker than a tripel. They tend to be dark amber to the dark brown in colour.

In terms of flavour profiles, Belgian quadrupels also hover somewhere between a dubbel and tripel. Since they can contain both caramelized sugar and malts, they can be sweeter than tripels and more bitter than dubbels, 

It’s especially important to be careful when drinking a Belgian quadrupel – it’s like having an entire bottle of wine to yourself! I always have to share one of these with my partner, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to walk out of the bar!

Belgian Beer Guide: A Glass For Every Beer

Just when you thought you were over the hump of Belgian beer complexities, there’s more! Little did you know, there’s a specific way to drink beer in Belgium from how you pour it and what glass you serve it in.

For every beer there is a specific Belgian beer glass to drink it from. The unique shape of the glass promotes its individual aromas and flavours. So, pairing a beer with the proper glass is taken very seriously. The  classic style beer glass  is called a Tulip because it looks like a Tulip bulb.

There’s also a very specific way to pour your Belgian beer. First, every beer has a preferred drinking temperature (usually room temperature). Sometimes you’ll want to open it up and let it sit for a bit to reach the appropriate temperature. You also need to make sure you’re pouring it at the right angle. Watch how to properly serve and pour your Belgian beer here .

Drink Beer The Right Way… Get A Tulip Belgian Beer Glass

• Classic Craft Beer Glasses Set: Our craft brew beer glasses set features elegant tulip beer glasses with a wide bowl and narrow top – this set of glasses for beer contains four, 16 Oz stemmed Belgian ale beer glasses
• Stylish Tulip Design: Crafted from glass, this glass tulip beer set is specifically designed to serve Belgian ale; these classic tulip-shaped beer glasses with stem are equally stylish and functional
• Enhance The Aroma: These handsome craft beer glasses capture the beer’s head and open up its aroma; while the iconic, hefty stem of the ale glass shields the brew from the warmth of your hand
• Lead Free: Place our lead free, dishwasher safe beer goblet glasses in the dishwasher for quick and easy clean up. This beer glass set is an excellent addition for the beer lover’s collection
• Beer Glass Gift Set: Our beer glasses are ideal gifts for craft beer lovers who appreciate how a type-specific contour enhances the experience of beer drinking; these beer glasses make great bachelor, housewarming or host gifts

Where To Go Beer Tasting Around Belgium

As you probably understand by now, a trip to Belgium is all about beer. You cannot visit this amazing country without doing at least one beer tasting tour. Luckily for you, there’s pretty much a brewery in (or near) every city to visit and taste their local brew!

If you don’t want to visit a specific brewery, you can also go on a beer tasting tour. We did one in Brussels with Sandeman’s and loved it! We learned all the crucial information about Belgian beer that way.

The Ultimate Brussels City Guide: What To See, Eat, & Do?

If you want to try them on your own, you’ll have the most selection at  Delirium in Brussels . It’s a huge bar with some 2000 different beers to try.

You can also plan your trip around the annual Belgian Beer Weekend Festival in Brussels. It’s usually at the start of September, see the current dates . 

Brussels Beer Tasting Tours On Viator

Belgian Beer Guide: Belgian Breweries To Visit

It isn’t surprising that almost every city in Belgium has its own beer. Some might be more well known (like Stella Artois and Leffe) but that doesn’t mean the smaller breweries aren’t just as good (in fact, they’re usually better!).

Here are some of the main ones you can visit…

Easily Rate & Compare Each Beer

Rate each new beer you try from a brewery to find your favourite one with my digital and printable beer flight scorecard . See it on Etsy.

Try Stella Artois In Leuven

One of the smallest cities in Belgium brews one of the largest Belgian beer exports: Stella Artois. And it’s still brewed there today!

You can  visit the brewery , which is just outside the city centre in Leuven. Leuven is only a 15-minute train from Brussels too, so it’s pretty easy to get to. Plus, the city is one of my favourites in Belgium to visit, read more about spending a day in Leuven !

P.S. Leuven is also home to the longest bars in the world. It’s insane, you have to check it out!

Try Leffe In Leuven Or Dinant

Another well known Belgian beer around the world is Leffe. It’s originally from a monastery in Dinant but today it’s also brewed at the Stella Artois brewery in Leuven.

That doesn’t mean Dinant doesn’t honour its heritage though. They set up a  museum and tasting room  in the old monastery, and it’s only a short walk from the city centre. There is, of course, more to do in Dinant than taste beer, they have some of the most spectacular views in Belgium. 

Read more about what else to do with one day in Dinant .

Dinant Belgium: A Guide To The City With The Best View

Try De Halve Mann Beer In Bruges

This romantic medieval city has two breweries to visit:  Bourgogne des Flandres  and  De Halve Mann . De Halve Mann is the main one to visit in the city and they set a new standard for Belgium and beer. 

They built a 3km underground pipeline to bring the beer from the original brewery in the city to the bottling plant just outside. And, to top it all off, it was paid for by the citizens of Bruges.

Aside from their pipeline, De Halve Mann also brews a nice selection of Belgian beer styles to try. They have them all! From Belgian dubbels, to tripels, and quadrupels. My favourites are BrugseZot and Straffe Hendricks.

As a bonus, their brewery tour gives you one of the best rooftop views of the city! Read more about planning the perfect trip to Bruges .

Must Try De Konnick Beer In Antwerp

Antwerp is De Konnick beer. You can  visit the brewery , but it’s a bit further outside the city centre. They have three main beers available to try, the Bolleke (the original), Tripel Anvers, and Wild Jo.

You’ll only be able to try these in Antwerp, but they won’t be hard to find once you’re there. They’re served at every restaurant and pub in the city!

Become A Beer Guru: The Ultimate Beer Lovers Bundle!

Refine your beer tasting with my beer tasting guide then take notes on individual beers , or compare an entire flight . Print it out, or use it digitally!

See the bundle on Etsy .

What’s The Best Belgian Beer?

The one beer that you have to try at least once while you’re in Belgium is Westvleteren (but don’t ask me how to pronounce it). Apparently it’s one of the best beers in the world, but also one of the hardest to get your hands on.

I’ve tried it twice now, and let me tell you, the hype is worth it! If you’re a beer lover, you MUST try it. If you aren’t a beer lover, well, you still have to try it, it might change your mind!

It’s so smooth, well-balanced, and really doesn’t taste like a typical beer.

The reason it’s so hard to find is because it’s a Belgian Trappist beer (remember I spoke about Trappist beers? ), so it isn’t sold commercially. The only way you’re supposed to get it is by ordering it 2 months in advance and driving to the monastery yourself to pick it up. Of course, when you’re only in Belgium for a week or two, this isn’t so convenient. So, I have a few hookups for you to try some if you’re in Brussels…

Where To Try Westvleteren In Brussels?

If you want to enjoy Westvleteren at a bar, head to  The Monk  near St. Catherines Church. It’s not on the menu, so you’ll have to ask the bartender for it.

If they don’t have it, you can also try Beer World in Ixelles . It’ll be more expensive, but they usually have a nice supply of it.

What’s The Next Best Belgian Beer?

If you aren’t able to get your hands on Westvleteren, a good substitute is St. Bernardus Abt 12 . The flavours are very similar, it just lacks some of the smoothness of Westvleteren. But it’s definitely a close second!

P.S. Are you in Ontario? Sometimes LCBO stocks St. Bernardus Abt 12… see if it’s in stock near you ! We’ve driven to Ottawa from Montreal just to pick some up and get a taste of Belgium at home!

Is Belgian Moon From Belgium?

No! Belgian Moon/ Blue Moon beer is simply a Belgian-Style Wheat Ale.

Belgian Moon is owned by MillerCoors in the U.S. and has been brewing their beer in North America since 1995 (and it says that on the can!). The name might be a bit misleading, but it’s only a Belgian style beer!

Even though this isn’t authentic Belgian beer it’s still my go to summer beer! But it’s brown Leffe in the winter for me!

The Best Beer-Themed Souvenir From Belgium

One of the easiest and cheapest souvenirs to bring back from Belgium are the bottle caps of the beers you’ve tried. Every time I ordered a beer would I ask the bartender for the bottle cap. 

Then when I came home, I turned them into fridge magnets. They’re a nice reminder of my trip every time I see them.

The Perfect Souvenir from Belgium: Bottle Cap Magnets

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Wednesday 24th of August 2022

I feel like we're going to have a wild time trying out the different alcohol levels of beer in Belgium

Thursday 25th of August 2022

Oh yes!! That's for sure! :P

Katie | KatieGoes

Saturday 9th of May 2020

Oh. My. Goodness. You've just made me VERY thirsty - haha!

Sunday 10th of May 2020

Kiara Gallop

This is, quite honestly, the best post I've read on Begian beers - so informative! I didn't know anything about the Trappist breweries or about the dubbel, tripel and quadruple beers. I think I just ordered the ones I liked the sound of in the description, or the ones that had the funniest names or the coolest drinking glasses :-D

That is not a bad method for ordering beer :P I'll admit sometimes I also made the choice based on which glass it came it. Thanks though, that means so much to me!

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Belgian beers travel guide

The best beers in belgium.

Beer is a quintessential part of Belgian culture. So much so that UNESCO added Belgian beer culture to its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in 2016. The country is home to the world’s biggest brewery and over 700 types of beer, from dark, strong Tripel beers to lighter, fruity ales.

Despite producing only 1% of the world’s beers, the unique flavours of Belgian beer make it stand out. Local brasseries or taverns are the best places to try them, the former usually offering a fixed-price menu serving food and drinks, while the latter focuses on drinks only.

If you want the ultimate beer-tasting experience, this country won’t disappoint. Read on as we explore Belgium’s wide selection of beers and where to try them.

History of beer in Belgium

The history of Belgian beer dates back centuries, long before the country gained independence. Its brewing landscape evolved across rural farmland, small villages and monasteries at a time when people couldn’t drink water because of its poor quality.

The first recorded sale occurred on the 1st of June 1861, which marked the beginning of beer-making methods as we know them today.

The two most popular beers are Trappist and Abbey. Production of the first Trappist beer (Westmalle) began in 1836 and was exclusively for monks. It’s famous for its sweet taste. Abbey beers are also monastic and can be produced by a commercial brewery in agreement with an existing monastery.

Presentation is crucial in the beer-making industry. Glassware is the go-to in almost every bar, partly for marketing and taste purposes. A lot goes into deciding which glasses to use, including alcohol level, desired serving temperature, aromatic qualities and handling dynamics.

The different types of beer in Belgium

Whether you prefer it bitter and robust, or fruity and sweet, Belgium’s beer landscape knows no bounds. We’ve gathered some of the country’s most famous beer types, with something to suit all tastes.

Monastic-style beer

As mentioned, monastic-style beers were the first to be produced and are still a fan-favourite today. There are six Trappist breweries in Belgium which produce different ales, from Belgian pale ales to Tripels and Quadrupels. These paved the way for Abbey beers, bottled-conditioned ales with strong yeast profiles. The most common Abbey beers are Dubbels and Tripels, where alcohol levels are between 6% and 9%.

Hoppy, dry and refreshing, saisons are farmhouse ales, highly carbonated with strong pepper and citrus notes. They are produced in Wallonia, in southern Belgium, and were initially consumed by farmers in winter. These beers have an alcohol level between 5 and 6.5% and include Saison Dupont, Saison de Dottignies and St-Feuillien Saison.

Witbier (white beer) is an unfiltered, hazy beer brewed using 30 to 60% raw wheat. It’s delicate and light, with dried orange peel and coriander to add a refreshing note. This beer is perfect for summer and includes Hoegaarden, St. Bernardus Wit and Vedett Extra White.

Blonde beer

Characterised by high carbonation and rich layers of foam, blonde beers are a go-to for many beer enthusiasts. These ales have a subtle spicey citrus taste complemented by a bitter aftertaste. They include Ename Blond, Omer and Duvel.

Spéciale Belge

Spéciale Belge beers were created in response to German lagers and English ales of the early 1900s. These traditional Belgian beers are malty, gentle and have a nutty flavour. They are balanced and light and include Bolleke De Koninck, Palm, ‘Spécial’ De Ryck and Tonneke.

Lambic beer

Lambic is a flat wheat beer fermented with airborne yeast and aged in wooden barrels. When blended into Geuze – a type of lambic beer – it becomes refreshing, highly carbonated and acquires an oaky taste. Brewers combine these beers with raspberries, cherries and apricots. The most common lambic beers are 3 Fonteinen, Cantillon and Oud Beersel.

Belgian beer tastings and tours

What better way to learn about Belgian beers than to sample them at a local brewery? Here are some of Belgium’s best beer tasting tours .

• Cantillon Brewery : This family-run brewery in Anderlecht has operated since 1900 and is famous for its unique lambic beers. Guided tours take place between 10:00 and 16:00 and last 45 minutes. Tasting cost 7€.
• De Halve Maan : Bruges is Belgium’s crowning jewel, and De Halve Maan is one of its highlights. This brewery is home to the world’s first beer pipeline, connecting the venue to a bottling plant. The 45-minute tour occurs daily between 11:00 and 16:00. It ends with a tasting of the Brugse Zot Blond beer.
• De Koninck : Recently renovated to include a visitor’s centre, De Koninck is Antwerp’s oldest brewery. It’s the birthplace of Bolleke, a malty pale ale with notes of caramel and cinnamon. Watch the magic happen on a 90-minute tour and treat yourself to a tasting.
• Het Anker : This is one of Belgium’s oldest breweries and has operated inside a convent since 1471. The tour lasts around 2 hours, including a tasting, and ends on the beautiful rooftop terrace.

Belgian beer festivals

If you’re lucky enough to travel to Belgium for one of its beer festivals, you’re in for a treat. Live music performances, dance and more beer await you. Here’s where and when they take place.

• Belgian Beer Weekend : Taking place during the first week of September, the Belgian Beer Weekend represents Belgian beer culture at its finest. It’s held in Brussels’ stunning Grand-Place, boasting over 50 regional stands and national brewers around its perimeter.
• Zythos Beer Festival : Welcome to the epitome of a Belgian beer festival. Zythos Beer Festival used to take place in Saint-Nicolas but became so popular that it was moved to Leuven in 2004. Today, it hosts over 80 stands.
• BAB Bruges Beer Festival : BAB Bruges Beer Festival is held in April and features over 450 beers. All Trappist beers are available, including the traditional Westvleteren.
• Brassigaume : This festival takes place over two days in the first half of October, with 25 master brewers showcasing their best creations.

Our routes to Belgium

Dover-Calais Ferry Crossings

Our fastest and most popular ferry crossing, our Dover to Calais route takes only 100 minutes, allowing you to explore Europe at your leisure.

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Head across the Channel on our Newhaven to Dieppe route and in just 4 hours you can sail in comfort from the south of England to France's beautiful Normandy coast.

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Belgian Beer Guide

Well, it is far from a coincidence. In Belgium we are brewing far more beer than we are consuming ourselves. Relatively speaking we are Europe’s largest beer exporter.

Every year, 18 million hectolitres of beer is flowing from the tanks of Belgian breweries and 11 million of this output flows across the border(s), to our neighbouring countries of France, the Netherlands, Germany and the UK as well as farther-flung destinations such as Italy, Spain, Scandinavia, the USA, Japan and China…

Belgian beer is at the pinnacle of quality craft beer and is now a top reference on a global level, attracting the same status as Scottish whisky or Italian wine.

So what makes ‘brewed in Belgium’ so special? Top of the charts has to be our respect for centuries-old tradition. We don’t mean to say that we are living in a dusty beer museum.

In the brewery labs everything is analysed down to the minutest detail. This is how the brewers manage to produce beers of consistent quality. After all, this is what the average beer drinker looks for in their beer.

When he or she orders their usual pils, they will expect the same familiar taste in the glass every single time.

All this sounds far easier than it actually is. And the more accessible the beer, and the less alcohol it contains, the harder it is to produce the same brew time after time.

Just to provide an example: most established breweries are having clones of their yeast strains stored in the yeast banks managed by the universities.

The academicians act as advisors for the development of new beers and collaborate with the brewery to find the right strain of yeast.

In the meantime, they have developed a taste for test brewing themselves to the point where nowadays, albeit on a very modest scale, in their own microbrewery they try to resurrect beers that were thought to have vanished from the brewing world.

Family breweries with roots going back to the 19th century or even more ancient have managed to ensure the survival of traditional beer styles, as shown by the story of the Belgian Family Brewers. In addition to the omnipresent pils there is a wealth of other options.

This style of beer is given plenty of time to develop its complex flavours, just like the new generation of top-fermented beers matured in recycled wine, whisky or cognac barrels.

The process allows the beers to absorb the rich aromas and tastes of the alcohol previously stores in these barrels.

One of the finest aspects of Belgian beer culture is that it allows you to re-trace the origin of various traditional beer styles through the ages.

Abbey beers point out the historic importance of the monks, who were the educated people of their time. They advised people to drink beer instead of water as the quality of drinking water, especially in the cities, was way below par.

Two hundred years ago our ancestors used to consume over two hundred litres of, albeit ‘small’ (low alcohol), beer per capita per annum.

Nowadays we like to keep things civilised with a consumption of eighty litres per head, but the beer we enjoy these days is stronger and of a higher quality.

Leafing through this virtual beer guide you cannot help but be ‘sucked into’ the rich Belgian beer world .

You get a taste of the broad story of Belgian beer production or else you zoom in to explore the history of a well-known brewery and its beers. Beer Tourism went online in early 2013.

In addition to our website we continue to showcase the rich Belgian beer culture in different ways through our posts on Google+, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Pinterest.

You can use Beer Tourism as your window on the world of Belgian beer, freshly drawn from the source: the Belgian breweries.

For many years Belgian beers were only talked about outside our country’s borders.

We felt it was high time we turned things around and started wielding our own mashing stick. We do hope you enjoy what we have to offer.

They are also making a contribution to the surprisingly diverse Belgian beer culture. The microbrewers have turned out to be a blessing for the entire beer landscape thanks to their abundant creativity.

They shy away from what is traditional, are lightning-quick when it comes to picking up new trends and know how to translate these into our beer culture.

They ensure that, in addition to ‘balance in the glass’, there is room for what may appear at first sight to be far-fetched experiments.

And so, we are seeing niche beers co-existing happily with the mainstream. This creativity is now also fermenting and bubbling up into the Belgian food scene .

After all the brasseries, taverns and pub-cafés that have found their way towards a good beer.

Hobby cooks are also increasingly using beer in their kitchens. It’s all part of the trend towards ‘terroir’ where we see regional products gaining in popularity.

After all, you will find beers in every region that suit the local dishes particularly well…

Our enthusiasm for beer almost makes us forget that there are plenty of other riches to be discovered in our tiny country on the North Sea.

With our travel guide to Belgium we would like to introduce you to our well-known towns and cities; Brussels of course, but those in Flanders and Wallonia too, all of them rich in both history and (beer) culture.

Just think of Ypres that is mentioned in the same breath as Flanders Fields and the First World War, or Bastogne in the Ardennes, which still bears the traces of the Battle of the Bulge that was fought in the Second World War.

The towns of Bouillon, La Roche and Houffalize take on the splendid colours of the forests of the Ardennes. Leuven, the birthplace of the world’s largest brewery, is laying claim to the title of beer capital. Poperinge is at the centre of Belgian hop cultivation.

Nieuwpoort and Ostend bring you the salty tang of the beaches of the North Sea. So many cities, so many stories in what is after all only a tiny country.

In Belgium you are never more than an hour’s drive away from entering another world where you will find a different culture and sometimes also a different language.

This kaleidoscope of flavours and styles translates into your glass of beer. The good news is that you are never far away from tasting something that will tingle your taste buds. Open up all your senses. Take your time. Enjoy the slight air of inebriation. And above all, do let us know how it all went down!

Erik Verdonck Editor-in-Chief & Artistic Director at BeerTourism.com

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9 Super fun beer tours in Belgium – Discover the Belgian beer culture

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What we talk about in this article

Belgium is most famous for its variety in beers, and we do have quite a few breweries, spread all over the country.

Some breweries are authentic and operated in monasteries, while others have grown international. But in the end, all of them produce some of the best drafts in the world, and we’re proud of that!

In any case, you can’t skip on doing a beer tour when visiting Belgium. Whether you want to visit a brewery, or join a tasting tour, you will have tons of fun and get to taste some of the very best Belgian brews.

So we listed some of the very best beer tours in Belgium in this article! We got a few options for each of the most popular travel destinations in the country, so it will be easy to fit one of these excursions into your itinerary for Belgium!

Brussels beer tours

The capital of Brussels is an excellent travel destination. Staying one day in Brussels can be enough, but the city is more than interesting enough to spend a few extra days!

Make sure you reserve enough time in Brussels to plan a beer tasting tour and one of these other sightseeing trips in Brussels !

Brussels Beer Tasting Experience

The Belgian Beer Tasting Experience in Brussels is a 2,5-hour tour which takes you to 3 iconic bars where you get to taste 4 famous Belgian ales.

Your experienced local guide walks you through the city and explains the history of the different types of ales. You can expect to learn a few notable facts about the different brews of Belgium.

And of course, you will have an awesome time with the other travelers that join the tour.

The Beer Tasting Experience is a relaxed and fun tour to join in Brussels.

After the tour, you get a bottle of Trappist to take home with you!

Check out the Brussels Beer Tasting Experience

Small group Brussels Beer Tour

If you need more than 2,5 hours for tasting, check out this popular beer tasting tour in Brussels, which lasts for 4 hours. Tours start in the early afternoon.

With a small group and a local guide, you’ll venture out in the city of Brussels to taste a selection of 8 Belgian brews, complete with cheese and snacks.

Some of the brews in this tour are: Chimay, Faro, and Orval.

Your professional guide takes you to some of the oldest taverns in the city and you’ll get a chance to explore a lesser known part of the city.

During this tour, you’ll get to know a lot of interesting facts about Belgian beer and the city of Brussels.

Check out the small group tasting tour in Brussels

The Famous Hungry Mary’s Chocolate and Beer Tour

As for Brussels Beer tasting excursions, Hungry Mary’s Chocolate and Beer tour is the most popular and most famous of them all.

During this 4,5-hour tour, a variety of delicacies is coming you way!

You start your way through Brussels on foot, accompanied by an expert local guide.

The journey starts off with visits to the very best chocolatiers in Brussels and you get to taste a lot of goodies!

In between the chocolatiers and pubs, you pass by some of the most interesting landmarks in the city.

At the Grand Place, several historic and beautiful pubs await you and your group.

On the menu: multiple famous Belgian beer samples, like: Trappist, Lambic, Kriek, Doubles, and Triples, …

A great plus: the guide is super loveable and funny!

Check out Hungry Mary’s Chocolate and Beer Tour

Bruges beer tours

Steady on the second place for ‘most popular destinations in Belgium’, Bruges is one you can’t miss. And in Bruges, there’s also some awesome beer tasting to be done.

You can expect a few local brews to be on the menu of these excursions.

Most visitors stay in Bruges for more than one day, which gives you enough time to include one of these delicious tasting tours!

Bruges Brewery Tour + Chocolate and Beer Tasting

The Bruges Brewery Tour is a 3-hour excursion that includes everything you need for the beautiful city of Bruges.

During this guided tour, you’ll visit the Halve Maan brewery, where the famous Brugse Zot is brewed. You’ll also enjoy a 3-course lunch inside the brewery.

Aside from the brewery visit, you also get to see the most important landmarks in the city and visit the Choco Story museum, where you can learn about the history of cacao beans and see how chocolate is made today.

This is one of the most popular and interesting tours you can do in the city of Bruges. It’s a full city tour that shows you all you have to see with the extra chocolate and beer tasting!

Check out the Bruges Brewery Tour

Bruges Beer Experience - Museum ticket

The Bruges Beer Experience is the actual beer museum in Bruges.

In this museum, you can discover the stories behind the brewing heritage of the monks in Bruges.

You’ll learn how to pair beer with food and the details about the local drinking culture.

This museum also has an on-site bar where you can buy over a dozen Belgium brews.

Check out the Bruges Beer Experience Museum

Ghent beer tours

Like Bruges, Ghent is also an interesting destination, where you can easily spend some time. Most itineraries count a half day for Ghent, but you won’t be bored if you stay a little longer!

Authentic Beer Tasting Journey

The Authentic Beer Tasting Journey is a 2,5 hour tour through the cozy streets of Ghent.

Your expert guide takes you around the city with regular stops at some of the most beautiful bars in town.

Each of the bars is known for its excellent selection of brews and you’ll get to taste some of the delicious drinks at each stop.

You can expect to learn a thing or two about the history and brewing culture in the region, while tasting a variety of different drafts. And to top it off, you also get to taste Belgian cheeses and other local snacks with your drinks.

Check out the Authentic Beer Tasting Journey

Antwerp beer tours

The city of Antwerp is an underestimated destination in Belgium and sadly, we see that it is left out of many itineraries. Still, the city is super beautiful and it has a lot to offer for travelers.

First of all, there are quite a few beers made in Antwerp, so your tasting tour will be filled with tasty local drafts. And Antwerp also has quite a few monumental landmarks to visit!

Antwerp Beer Tour

The Antwerp Beer tour is a 3-hour walking tour through the city of Antwerp.

You’ll discover some of the most interesting sightseeing stops and of course: pubs!

Taste 6 exquisite brews, all made in Antwerp, in the most authentic locations around the city.

Your professional guide takes you to some iconic taverns and pubs, where you get a taste of the best brews in the region. With each of the beers, your expert guide explains about which brew you’re tasting, how it’s made, and what’s in it.

In the tasting palette, some strong brews are included, so these will only be samples, while others will be full pints.

Check out the Antwerp Beer Tour

Visit the Antwerp brewery of De Koninck

The brewery of De Koninck is one of the last breweries in the city of Antwerp and it’s also one of the few breweries you can visit independently.

During this interactive brewery tour, you can follow along with an audio guide that will lead you through the brewing process.

De Koninck Brewery is a beautiful place and the exhibit is very interesting and nicely laid out.

Get admission tickets to De Koninck Brewery

The mother of all beer tours in Belgium!

If you really want to dive into the Belgian beer culture, definitely consider this tour! It takes you to all the interesting places you need to see. Plus, you get the beer tastings and local cuisine on top of it!

8-day Belgian beer tour

You really want to indulge in Belgian beers for a few days and truly explore the local drinking culture?

Then this is the ultimate trip for you.

Different areas of Belgium have different breweries and specific tastes in beer. You can only really understand what beer is to Belgium if you get a little taste of everything.

This awesome small group tour lasts for 8 days and it takes you to all the important landmarks of the Belgian brewing culture.

Most breweries are not open to visitors and it can be difficult to get in as a visitor. After all, the brewing process is supposed to remain a secret in order to keep distinct differences in taste.

G Adventures has a few inside connections that allow travelers in this tour to get as close as possible. So this tour brings you as close as possible to the Belgian breweries and abbeys.

The 8-day Belgian Beer Tour starts off in Brussels, before heading to the abbey of Rochefort, where you get a sneak peek into the abbey. The next day, you’ll visit Orval and Chimay, before heading over to the iconic city of Bruges. In Bruges, you can visit a local brewery and see the brewing process. Then, Westmalle and Antwerp are on the list, with a quick stopover in Achel.

During each stop, you get a chance to discover the city and explore some of the most important landmarks.

If you’re a beer lover, this tour is an all-in trip to Belgium, with a few beer introductions along the way!

Check out the 8-day Belgian Beer Tour

Conclusion - Beer tours in Belgium

As you can see, there’s a variety of available beer tours, brewery tours, museums, and beer tastings available in Belgium.

Most of these are NOT actual pub crawls and you shouldn’t expect these tours to be drinking feasts. During a local beer tour, you’ll get to learn a little about the culture and history, while tasting / sampling some of the most iconic Belgian beers along the way.

The most popular travel destinations in Belgium are Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges, and Ghent. So, we got you a few tours in each city.

If you really want to submerge into the rich brewing culture and history of Belgium, we definitely recommend taking the 8-day Belgian Beer Tour, where you get to see a lot of different places which all have an important part in the brewing history of Belgium.

During this trip, you visit the actual abbeys where monks started brewing decades ago!

Hopefully, you found the perfect excursion for your needs in this list, and we hope you enjoy your trip to the tiny, but pretty Belgium!

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The Bruges Beer Guide: Discovering The City’s Best Beers, Bars + Breweries

Hunting out the best beer bars in Bruges? Don’t miss this Bruges beer guide – complete with the best bars and brewery tours and some handy tips for navigating the complex world of Belgian beers.

Beer is synonymous with Bruges. Turn every corner in this fairytale city and you’re confronted with the evidence – a beer bar here, a beer bar there, a brewery – not to mention an annual beer festival each February that sees Bruges showing off the very best of its beer culture. 

The first time I visited Bruges, I didn’t quite expect the vast about of choice when it came to beer tastings, tours and bars. That’s not to say that I didn’t embrace it with gusto: I set out to discover as much as I could about Brugge’s beer scene – a passion that has lasted through all my subsequent visits. 

Setting out to explore the beer in Bruges is a pleasure any way you go about it – but this is also a place where a little bit of knowledge can go a long way.

Want to know the difference between a farmhouse ale and a Dubbel? What about Kwak? Read ahead my friends. 

PS: Also looking for more Bruges inspiration? Check out my Bruges City Guide – The Best Things to do and Places to See in the City.

Belgian Beer 101: Handy Facts to Know Before Taking on Bruges Beer Scene

Right, before we set off to drink all of the ridiculously good beer we can lay our hands on in Brugge’s bars and breweries, here’s a quick rundown of some of the common terms you’ll come across and what they mean. 

Trappist Ales

There are plenty of trappist beers in Bruges – but what are they? Trappist ales are tightly regulated and have to follow set criteria to call themselves a trappist ale. 

The first, and the biggest one is that the beer has to be fermented and bottle conditioned within the walls of a monastery by, or under the supervision of, the monks. 

The second is that the brewery can’t be run for profit – but only to support the monastery and its work in society. 

Abbey Beers

Abbey beers by contrast, are ales that have been brewed in the style of traditional Trappist ales but that do not fulfil the requirements to label themselves as a Trappist ale. 

What’s the Difference Between Dubbel, Tripel and Quadrupel Beers?  

As soon as you start drinking Belgian beers, you’ll notice that many beers are marked as Dubbel, Tripel or Quadrupel – but what does that actually mean? 

Common sense would tell you that it refers solely to the strength of the beer – so you’d expect a Quadrupel to be double the strength of a Dubbel. Guess what? Common sense is wrong. Well, kind of. I’ll walk you through the differences. 

Dubbel is a style of beer, generally at ABV 6% to 8.5%, dark in colour and toasted, malty and spiced tasting notes. They’re yeasty and complex – the kind of beers you either love or hate. 

A tripel by contrast should be lighter – golden in colour, clouded in appearance with hoppier notes and a smoother taste.

They are stronger but the malt used is Pilsner, so they have a completely different flavour profile to Dubbels, with citrussy aromas. Strength-wise, they can knock between ABV 8.5% to over 10% – let’s just say that you will know about it if you knock too many of them back in one go.

So what about the quadrupel then? 

Well, unlike the dubbels and the tripels, which have been traditionally brewed by monks for centuries, the quadrupel is relatively recent. In fact it’s not even Belgian. I know, I’m clutching my pearls and simultaneously questioning everything I know about life. 

The quadrupel aims to unite the flavours and tasting notes of dubbels with elements of the tripel. They are strong though – pretty much always punching in at ABVs of over 10%. 

White beers are meant to be refreshing – served chilled, with tasting notes of christmas spice emphasised by the citrus peel served with the drink. 

Lambic Beers 

Lambic beers are another beer you don’t come across outside of the world of Belgian beer. They use spontaneous fermentation thanks to unique microorganisms found in Belgium’s Senne Valley – breweries leave them in large open vats to develop their unmistakable tang.

Sharp and sour, they’re matured for long periods of time to soften the taste and blended with fruit (often cherries), hence why they frequently are described as having a sour cherry taste. 

In fact, Flanders has always excelled at making sour ales – not everyone loves them but their sharp fruity taste are unlike beers brewed elsewhere in the world. Styles include Flanders Red, Guezes, Brown ales and the aforementioned Lambics. 

Brewery Tours in Bruges

If you’re wondering where to drink beer in Bruges, you can hardly do better than going to an actual brewery to kick things off.

De Halve Maan 

De Halve Maan (The Half Man) is the most famous Bruges brewery tour. 

The frequent tours are held in several languages – talking you through the history of the brewery and the brewing process for their unique beers. 

The guides are funny, personable and hugely informative, leading you through the warren of rooms and passages that make up the brewery. They’re relatively comprehensive (45 minutes) and include a sampling of the beers too. 

De Halve Maan is a popular Brugge brewery option, so I’d recommend taking the first tour of the day (if you can stomach it – I’m sure that you can) or going as late as possible when all the day-trippers have set off home. 

Incidentally, when people say that beer flows through Bruges’ streets, they’re not exaggerating. The Half Man Brewery recently installed a beer pipe to transport beer from the brewery to its bottling plant on the outskirts of the city. 

Bourgogne des Flandres 

The historic beer of Bourgogne des Flandres recently moved back into the city to a new microbrewery in central Bruges and with it came a cool little Bruges brewery tour. 

The tour itself takes you tells you about the hops and brewing process that results in Bourgogne des Flandres’ traditional rounded dark and fruity beer – you can even learn how to tap the beer digitally too. Once you’re done, round it off with a free glass of the good stuff in their bar. 

The brewery tours are interesting and the beers are tasty but my personal experience was kind of marred by the rude service at the bar. The beer was tasty though. 

Want more? Book onto a private Bruges Beer Brewery tour visiting the city’s breweries with a local expert. 

The Best Beer Bars in Bruges

 ’t brugs beertje.

Is ’t Brugs Beertje the best bar in Bruges? According to many, the answer is yes. On the face of it, it’s nothing particularly special – a small pub on a cobbled street on one of the quieter roads of Bruges.

Go inside and you start to get an idea of what is so special about it. Every wall, every surface is covered in beer-related paraphernalia, scribbled on by the thousands of punters who’ve patronised the bar at some point or another. 

That’s before you even get to the beer – with over 300 Belgian Beers to choose from, there’s guaranteed to be something to suit your taste. It’s a real highlight on any beer tasting in Bruges odyssey. 

The Beer Wall at 2Be

Chances are you’ve already seen or heard about the infamous Bruges beer wall at 2be bar. Enter the cavernous doorway to be confronted with a huge array of beer bottles (over 1250) and glasses all stacked up row by row on a long wall. 

Don’t just go and gawp though, as you’d expect, the bar serves an extensive array of beers and the spacious beer garden is smack-bang canalside. Great beer and gorgeous views – I won’t blame you if you don’t want to leave. 

Browhuis Corsendonk 

This small gem of a beer bar in Bruges, completely off the tourist track, may sport some rather odd kitsch decorations (on my last visit, there were puppet style witches dotted about the place) – but the beer is stellar.

Affiliated with the brewery of the same name – this is the place to go and drink Corsendonk.

Try the Corsendonk Pater – a dark brown ale with a creamy head and notes of dried fruit. If that’s not your style, the Corsendonk Angus is a light golden ale with a cidery aroma and a crisp finish. 

Langestraat 104, 8000 Brugge, Belgium

Le Trappiste

Another Bruges beer bar favourite, Le Trappiste sits in a rather gloomy cellar – pouring out their extensive range of Belgian Beers (including more than a few rare finds). The candlelit bar makes an atmospheric setting for sipping on your beer and it’s surprisingly reasonable given its popularity. 

Bierbrasserie Cambrinus

It’s not flash and it’s not stylish but Bierbrasserie Cambrinus draws in the crowds. Why? Well this pub in Bruges just so happens to serve very good beer alongside very good food. The beer list is large enough that it’s a bit daunting but is great value – if you really struggle, the staff are always on hand to make a few recommendations. 

It might be difficult to find (you’ll have to keep your eyes firmly on the map to get it right) but De Garre is another Bruges beer gem. The Tripel De Garre is the biggest draw here – weighing in at a whopping 11% this sweet but strong beer packs such a punch that drinkers are only allowed to order three in any visit. 

‘t Poatersgat

‘t Poatersgat has a slightly too-cool-for-school vibe – but get past that and you will discover a bar in Bruges with a large range of speciality beers in a pleasant space. 

Must-Try Brugge Beer Experiences

Bruges Beer Experience 

Want to really get into the nitty gritty of Belgian beer? Head to the Bruges Beer Museum. 

Set off on one of their interactive self-guided museum tours to learn about the history of beer in Bruges – there’s a LOT of information on the first floor – so much so that you could spend hours walking around before you even head up to the second.

The second floor is a more interactive, focused on the equipment, ingredients and process used to make beer. Once you’re finished you get to put your knowledge to the test by taking your pick of draft beers (some of which you can only get in the museum itself) to round off the experience. 

This laid-back museum also doubles up as a cool little beer drinking spot as you can opt to forgo the tour and simply sample their extensive collection of beers. 

The Bottle Shop

With all this beer drinking, you’re pretty much guaranteed to want to bring a few Belgian beers home with you. The shelves speak for themselves – over 600 beers alongside their accompanying glasses so you can shop your favourites and savour them at home. 

Where to Drink Beer in Bruges: Map 

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Read More Bruges and Belgium Travel Guides 

• Cool Things to do in Bruges – What to See + What to Skip 
• Brugge Weekend Break Itinerary
• Day Trip to Bruges – How to Make the Most of Your Trip
• Where to Stay in Bruges
• 10 Stylish Bruges Airbnbs for Your Trip
• Bruges Tourist Map – Simply Save and Go
• Europe Packing List
• Antwerp: Cool Places to Visit on your Belgian City Break

I’m Julianna Barnaby - a professional travel writer and geek extraordinaire. I started The Discoveries Of to help you to discover the best of new destinations from around the world.

Discovering new places is a thrill - whether it’s close to home, a new country or continent, I write to help you explore more and explore differently.

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Savor Suds Alfresco at Some of Europe’s Finest Pubs

Enjoy Gourmet Dinners Onboard Prepared by our own Private Chef

Beer Tastes Better When You are Drinking it in Person at the Brewery!

Beautiful Bruges, Belgium is a Haven for Beer and Chocolate Lovers!

Getting to Know the Families Behind the Breweries Makes for a Truly Memorable Beer Trip

Drinking Westies at In De Vrede Cafe in Westvleteren is a Highlight of our Beer Trips

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Sailing Along the Scenic Canals is an Easy, Relaxing & Unique Way to Travel for Beer!

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A once in a lifetime trip —- that we are eager to do again! This trip far exceeded our expectations. The tours and tasting experiences were exclusive and unique. The quantity and quality of the beer and food was remarkable. The barge was beautiful, comfortable, and clean. Thanks to Ruth and Mike and the barge crew for going above and beyond to give us a trip that we will remember forever!

We had a fantastic time on the Belgium and France tour! Ruth and Mike are outstanding hosts, and our beer adventure was all we had hoped for and more. We would absolutely travel again with Bon Beer Voyage!

We are so glad we decided to make our trip to Belgium through Bon Beer Voyage . We are so thankful for Mike and Ruth’s expertise and connections in providing access to unique experiences.

 One of the rare cruises or tours that lived up to my expectations!

Extremely well organized . Loved the mix of large and small breweries.

Amazing trip, beyond expectation!

It was super fun and a wonderful experience! Ruth and Mike are very knowledgeable on beers and histories. Pairing chocolate has now become my MUST HAVE when I drink beers at home. Team members’ feedback are all positive as well. Great event!

We loved this event! Our partner really wanted to do a beer + chocolate tasting which I didn’t know a thing until I found your company! We do a lot of these virtual experiential events/beer/wine/mixology tastings and this was the first one that I noticed where attendees had cameras on, interaction from guests and people staying logged on the entire time!

The virtual beer and chocolate pairing was so unique, fun and informative! Mike and Ruth put together an engaging presentation that gave us much to talk about even after the event was over. What a wonderful way for those at our office to connect! A fantastic time was had by all! Thanks for putting together such a wonderful event!

Our group had a great time, and it was so fantastic to have a first-class option for hosting a celebration during COVID-19. Ruth and her team handled EVERYTHING, and it was a truly customized experience to celebrate my husband’s birthday!

Beer Trips & Beer Tours for Beer Lovers

Beer Tours and Beer Vacations with Bon Beer Voyage.  Whether you are a Craft Beer Connoisseur, a Belgian Beer Buff, or just like to take brewery tours and enjoy craft beer when you travel, you have just found the beer vacation that you thought existed only in your dreams.

Over the years, at the request of our guests, we have added in our own curated wine tours and spirit journeys that follow in the tradition of visiting amazing places, meeting the fantastic people behind the libation creations and searching out the most delicious wines, spirits and local cuisine out there.  (Of course, being who we are and knowing our guests, we often find some great craft beer along the route as well!) For now, all of our trips – Beer tours, Wine tours and Spirit tours are found on this website.

P.S. Have questions and want a quick answer? CALL US! 1-888-846-2337 We’re always happy to chat with fellow beer lovers about the subjects we are most passionate about- beer and travel!

Why Our Guests Say We’re The Best Beer Tour Company Around

Sure, there are tours run by people who like great craft beer – like us . And there are tours run by people who have visited places like Belgium, Holland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the UK and other beer-centric locales numerous times – like us . However…

Our Beer Trips all Incorporate Gourmet Food and Brewnique Tour Experiences Because We Don’t Believe in Cookie-Cutter Tours:

The Industry Connections & Contacts we Have Formed Around the World Allow Us Access That Most of Our Guests Would Never Otherwise Experience:

“Ruth and Mike are experts in both travel and beer, and where these intersect you have Bon Beer Voyage — a unique and unforgettable experience for the beer enthusiast. Their brewery contacts and knowledge of the local pub scenes are otherwise inaccessible to the ordinary traveler.” David S. Norfolk VA

We are Licensed, Certified, Registered and Insured to Run Tours. And Most Importantly-We are Experienced. Not all Tour Companies Take the Time, Effort and Expense Such Training and Certification Require:

We Take Safety and Preparation as Seriously as We Take Fun on our Beer Tours-Which Means We Do All the Work and Take Care of All the Details So You Don’t Have To. That’s Our Job. Your Job is to Relax, Have Fun, Enjoythe Journey and Drink Some of the Best Beer in the World:

Click Here to See What Beer Trips and Brewery Tours are On Tap…

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Why choose us.

• Beer Aficionados, Jason & Todd Alstrom of Beer Advocate  and Brewmaster Bob Sylvester of Saint Somewhere Brewing, chose us for their Beercations
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8 Best Beer Tours in Brussels: Ultimate Guide for 2024

Are you looking for the best beer tours in Brussels? Then you have come to the right place!

Brussels is a city that cannot miss on any Belgium itinerary and one of the best things to do here is to taste some delicious Belgian beer.

By joining a beer tour, you will not only taste some of the best beers Belgium has to offer but you will also learn more about this brew and how it is made.

Beer is one of the things Belgium is best known for and Belgian beer is famous all over the world. If you’re asking me, this is a pretty good reason to go beer-tasting while you’re travelling in this country!

This post features the best Brussels beer tours, from short and quick ones for those who are short on time to more in-depth ones for beer lovers.

Brussels beer tours: My top picks

Best overall: Belgian Beer Tasting ⏳  Length : 2,5 hours | 💰  Price:  €38

Best if you’re short on time: Beer Tasting Experience Brussels ⏳  Length : 1,15 hours | 💰  Price:  €24

Best private: Private Brussels Beer Tour ⏳  Length : 3 hours | 💰  Price:  €176

The best beer tours in Brussels

If you’re going to spend a day in Bru ssels , going on a beer tour is a great way to learn more about this brew. So, let’s dive into it!

You will find the best beer tours in Brussels along with what to expect on each tour and other useful information below.

>> Read: Is Brussels Worth Visiting? Top Reasons to Visit Brussels

1. Belgian Beer Tasting

⭐️  Rating : 5/5 stars | ⏳  Length : 2,5 hours | 🍺   Check availability

This guided beer tour will take you along the streets of Brussels and stop at local bars to taste some of the best Belgian beers. Meanwhile, your guide will tell you everything about this brew’s flavour and what makes Belgian beer some of the best in the world.

You will be able to sample three Belgian beers and one Belgian Trappist Ale during this tour. The latter is Belgium’s most traditional abbey beer.

This beer tour was amazing… fun, informative, and extremely entertaining. There is also no shortage of great beer. This tour is a must when exploring Brussels. Shea ( read more reviews )

It is good to know that this tour is held in the evening (6 pm) and that it ends at one of Brussels’ most popular bars. You can stay here and continue tasting beer by yourself if you want to.

💰  Price (group tour):  €38

2. Hungry Mary’s Famous Beer and Chocolate Tour

⭐️  Rating : 5/5 stars | ⏳  Length : 4 to 5 hours | 🍺   Check availability

If you would like to combine chocolate and beer , then Hungry Mary’s Famous Beer and Chocolate Tour is the perfect tour for you!

During this walking tour, you will not only taste at least six different Belgian beers at some of the city’s most popular bars, but you will also taste 12 different varieties of Belgian chocolates at the city’s best chocolatiers.

One of the best beer tours I’ve been on. Great guides, good beer and fantastic sightseeing really made our Brussels visit special. Would happily take the tour again. Shane ( read more reviews )

Another nice thing about this tour is that it will bring you along three of Brussels’ most famous landmarks ; the Grand Place, Manneken Pis and the Galleries Saint-Hubert.

Last but not least, you will get to taste some beer at Royal Theatre Toone, which is one of my favourite cafes in Brussels!

💰 Price (group tour): €90

3. Marc’s Belgian Beer Tour

⭐️  Rating : 4,5/5 stars | ⏳  Length : 4 hours | 🍺   Check availability

This walking tour will allow you to sample seven Belgian beers along with Belgian cheese, chocolate and other snacks. It will take you to some of the city’s most popular bars and cafes.

Thanks to your guide, you will also gain a lot of insights into Belgian beer varieties and the country’s brewing traditions during this tour.

Phenomenal experience. All the guides were incredibly knowledgeable and they took us to 4 unique places where we tried a variety of Belgian beers. Great history lessons of Brussels as well! Highly recommend! Joseph ( read more reviews )

Among other bars, Marc’s Belgian Beer Tour will also take you to Delirium Monasterium, which is part of Delirium Café. This café holds the Guinness World Record for offering the largest selection of beers in the entire world (over 2,000)!

💰 Price (group tour):  €79

4. Beer Tasting Experience Brussels

⭐️  Rating : 4,5/5 stars | ⏳  Length : 1,15 hours | 🍺   Check availability

This is one of the shortest beer tours on this list. It is perfect for those who want to learn more about beer and taste this brew, but are on a tight schedule.

Beer Tasting Experience Brussels will allow you to taste five different types of Belgian beer while learning more about the ingredients and history of this beverage.

Very nice experience, I would recommend it to understand better the prices of the beer process in Belgium and you can taste 5 of them! Tom ( read more reviews )

It is good to know that this tour takes place in one single location, 1 km (0.6 mi) from the Grand Place, in the centre of the city. This makes it a great activity to do in Brussels on a rainy day as well.

💰 Price (group tour):  €24

5. Beer Walk Brussels

⭐️  Rating : 4,5/5 stars | ⏳  Length : 3 hours | 🍺   Check availability

During this tour, your guide will take you to Brussels’ best-known pubs like Les Brasseurs, La Fleur en Papier Doré and La Mort Subite. Here, you will be able to try some great Belgian beers.

Along the way, you will also pass the famous Manneken Pis fountain, which is one of Brussels’ most famous landmarks.

This tour was my favorite that we did in Belgium. The guide was excellent, very knowledgeable and friendly, he is even a brewer himself! The bars were a good variety of different atmospheres in the city, and the beers were also great and representative of a good range of beer styles. Allison ( read more reviews )

Another nice thing about the Beer Walk Brussels tour is that the maximum group size is 15 people. This guarantees a more intimate experience.

💰 Price (group tour): €45

6. Brussels Craft Breweries

⭐️  Rating : 5/5 stars | ⏳  Length : 3 hours | 🍺   Check availability

What makes this tour special is that it includes a visit to a local brewery that’s not usually open to the public. Here, you will learn more about the beer-brewing process and be able to bottle one of their beers, which you can then take home with you! (this might just be the perfect souvenir from Belgium )

Besides visiting a brewery, the Brussels Craft Breweries tour will also take you to some great bars where you can taste delicious Belgian beer.

Great experience! Our tour of Brussels and introduction to all things Belgian Beer was amazing. Lot was a fantastic guide and we couldn’t have been more pleased. She was beyond accommodating and really helped open our eyes to Belgian beer which we are now huge fans!! A Tripadvisor Reviewer ( read more reviews )

It is good to know that this tour ends in a café in Saint-Gilles, which is 2,5 km (1.5 mi) away from the meeting point in the centre of Brussels.

💰 Price (group tour):  €64.50

7. Private Brussels Beer Tour

If you’d rather go on a personalized private tour , this is the one for you!

During the Private Brussels Beer Tour, a local expert will take you to the city’s most famous pubs where you will get to taste four to six delicious Belgian beers.

The most interesting and educational beer tour I’ve ever participated. Strong recommandations from us! Ivar ( read more reviews )

What’s great about this tour is that your guide will suggest you beer based on your personal taste and preferences. This tour is not the same for everyone, as the pubs you will visit will also depend on your personal interests.

All in all, the Private Brussels Beer Tour is the best beer tour in Brussels for those who would like to learn more about this brew in a private setting.

💰 Price (private tour):  €176

8. Belgian Beer Tasting & Course

⭐️  Rating : 4,4/5 stars | ⏳  Length : 1,15 hours | 🍺   Check availability

If you’re looking for a tour with a workshop atmosphere , this is the one for you! As its name predicts, the Belgian Beer Tasting & Course combines an interesting introductory course about beer with a beer tasting of five Belgian beers.

This tour will also teach you how to taste beer like an expert and how to distinguish the different styles of beer.

It was a fun evening. We learned a lot, got to try nice beer in a chilled and friendly atmosphere. We enjoyed learning about the different techniques and flavours and how to properly test it. I am sure there is something for every taste. Marion ( read more reviews )

Just like the Beer Tasting Experience Brussels tour (#4 on this list), this is one of the tours on this list that doesn’t involve walking but takes place in one place.

💰 Price (group tour):  €25

Brussels beer tours: FAQs

Is brussels known for beer.

Yes, Brussels and the rest of Belgium are famous for beer. There are over 200 breweries in Belgium and these produce more than 1,600 types of different beer.

Belgian beer is argued to be the best beer in the world and if you’re asking me, it lives up to its expectation!

What beer is from Brussels?

Brussels is full of breweries, both old and new. Some of the most famous ones are Cantillon Brewery, Brussels Beer Project, BrewSpot and Brasserie de la Senne.

Tara Boulba, Zinnebir, En Stoemelings, Cantillon and de Grosse Bertha are some beers from Brussels, but there are many more.

Where can I try beer in Brussels?

The best way to try a variety of Belgian beers and learn more about this brew is by joining a beer tour.

You will find Belgian beer in every café in this city, though. Some of the best cafés for tasting beer are Moeder Lambic, Delirium Café, L’Egalité and de Garre.

What to expect during a beer tour: Video

Final thoughts: Beer tours in Brussels

And voila! These were the best beer tours Brussels has to offer. I hope that you have found exactly what you were looking for and that this post inspires you to taste some Belgian beer.

I highly recommend taking a beer tour during your trip to Belgium. Not only will it teach you more about this brew Belgian is so famous for, but it will also allow you to enjoy some of the country’s best beers.

All in all, tasting beer in Brussels is one of the best things to do in Belgium and one you cannot miss if you’re a beer lover!

Read more about Brussels and Belgium:

• The Best Indoor Activities in Brussels
• The Best Shopping Malls in Brussels
• 12 Best Parks in Brussels
• The Best Day Trips from Brussels
• The Most Beautiful Monuments in Brussels

Belgium travel planning guide

🛫 Find the cheapest flights to Belgium on  Skyscanner . 🏨 Find the best accommodation via  Booking  or  Hostelworld . 🚃 Use Omnio to book public transportation in Belgium. 🚗 Rent a car with  Discover Cars   to get the best rates. 💰 Get travel insurance via  Visitors Coverage , one of the best-reviewed travel insurance companies. 📋 Don’t forget to  check if you need a visa  to visit Belgium

Pin it for later: Did you find this post helpful? Save it on Pinterest and follow me on Instagram and Facebook for more travel tips and inspiration.

Laura Meyers

Laura Meyers is the founder of Laure Wanders. She was born in Belgium and has travelled to over 40 countries, many of them solo. She currently spends most of her time between Belgium and South Asia and loves helping other travellers plan their adventures abroad.

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A First-timer’s Guide to Belgium — Why This Should be Your First Stop in Europe

A Belgian friend once said, “Good thing this country is tiny”. Like Singapore, it doesn’t take long to get to places.

At an hour’s drive from the capital city, you could find yourself on cobblestone streets surrounded by medieval buildings. In 1.5 hours by train, you could be in Amsterdam or Paris. But before you think of your next adventure from this iconic European city, here’s a quick guide to Belgium and how you can soak in the bustling vibes of Brussels — your first stop in Europe.

Heading to Europe? Check out our Europe guides and itineraries .

How to get to Belgium from Singapore

Brussels is now a direct flight from Singapore via Singapore Airlines .

Flight time: 13.5hrs Flight departing from Singapore: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays Flight departing from Brussels: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays

Fun fact: The last time Singapore Airlines flew directly to Brussels was between 1979 – 2003!

Must-tries in Brussels

Photo credit: Simon Schmitt

Brussels is a fairly small city. Public transport works well, but you can walk to most attractions. 

1) Soak in Magritte’s Surrealist influence

René Magritte’s surrealist art can be felt throughout Brussels, where he lived and worked for much of his life. What’s interesting about his artwork is how he uses ordinary objects in unusual contexts or juxtaposes them with unrelated elements, similar to the randomness in a dream.

Of course, one of the more prominent places to experience Magritte’s legacy is the Magritte Museum — it houses over 200 of his most famous artworks.

*Pro-tip: Grab an audio guide from the entrance for more insights about his artworks.

Extend your Magritte experience with drinks at the Bar Magritte — apart from the artworks, its menu consists of 20 bespoke cocktails inspired by some of his most famous works.

2) Try Belgian Fries

In Belgium, don’t ask for french fries; ask for La Frites. These are thicker fries but incredibly crispy at the edges, thanks to their double cook technique that makes them crispier. You could get a takeaway box from the famous chain La Friterie , or better, as a side with Mussels. Best eaten dipped in mayonnaise — many restaurants make them fresh! 

3) Visit Belgium Beer World

A fun interactive museum where you’ll journey through Belgium’s rich brewing heritage. Learn everything about beer from the beer styles — crisp lagers to complex ales — to interesting stories about how monks in centuries-old abbey breweries brewed beers.

Fun fact: Beer is 90% water, and in the past, water wasn’t clean, so it was actually safer to drink beer 🙃

Entrance fee: €17/pax (~S$29) (incl. A half-pint beer of choice at the end) Opening hours: 10AM – 5:30PM How to get there: 2min walk from Grand-Place ( Google Maps )

4) Join a chocolate workshop at Laurent Gerbaud

Chocolate is serious business in Belgium. And one of the best chocolate experiences we had here was at a Laurent Gerbaud chocolate workshop .

Held by the charming Laurent Gerbaud himself, the workshop has two parts. First, you get to make your own chocolate squares — learn how to fill up the moulds with the house-mixed dark chocolate (very tasty), then top it with any mix you like from candied fruits to nuts, and other interesting toppings.

Then, while waiting for the chocolates to cool and set, Laurent will bring you through a tasting palette of 12 different chocolates. You can walk away from this session calling yourself a chocolate connoisseur — jk, not really. Still, you’ll really gain an appreciation for the distinct chocolate flavours and how they pair with savoury nuts or candied/sour fruits — a must-experience in Brussels, I’d say.

Cost: €35/pax (~S$59) Workshop timing: Every Saturday, 11:30AM – 1PM (book via [email protected] ) How to get there: 3min walk from Magritte Museum ( Google Maps )

5) Explore charming neighbourhoods outside the city

One such neighbourhood is Saint Gilles — an architectural feast for the eyes, essentially, where the rich live. Spot colourful townhouses, lively cafes, and trendy boutiques. 

A highlight here is Maison Hannon , a restored Art Nouveau-style home designed by a renowned architect in the late 19th century. Look out for the intricate ironwork, curved lines, and floral motifs characteristic of the Art Nouveau style. You could imagine what it might have been like for the family during the peak of its time.

Maison Hanon Entrance fee: From €12/pax Opening hours: 10AM – 6PM, closed on Mon – Thu How to get there: 8min walk from Horta Museum ( Google Maps )

Side trips from Brussels

Photo credit: Pieter D

Just a short train ride or drive from Brussels is the medieval city of Bruges , often called the Venice of the North. Just a fair warning, the main street is very touristy, but with reason — and there are lesser-known gems to escape from the crowds.

Wander through the cobblestone streets along the canals, flanked by historic buildings. Walk along the main street if you love soaking in medieval vibes. If you’re looking for quieter spaces, check out this walking route:

From the Railway station, take a 10-minute stroll to Minnewater , also known as the Lake of Love.

Photo credit: Jan Darthet

From there, Koningin Astridpark is about 15 minutes on foot. Grab a little picnic to enjoy lunch at the Gazebo or around the lake.

then, follow the path to Coupure , a historic canal that served as a defensive waterway during the Middle Ages.

How to get to Bruges From Brussels Train: €21/pax (~S$36) (~1hr) Drive: ~1hr

Ghent turned out to be my favourite stop. It’s as picturesque as Bruges (IMO, more than), but has a much chiller vibe and fewer tourists.

A novel (albeit touristy) way to experience Ghent is via a boat ride from Korenlei. Find Vernie the boatman if you can. It’s not just “look at this, and look at that”, but he has a way of weaving in stories of himself, the city, and what you’re about to see. This turned out to be one of our highlights!

Another unexpected experience was our visit to Saint Bavo’s Cathedral. I’m not normally drawn to religious buildings, but our guide was so enthusiastic about the Mystic Lamb painting that we had to see it.

It starts with an immersive VR tour down in the Crypt, where you’re introduced to holographic scenes of the past before learning about each segment of the famed painting in detail. I promise it looks a lot more impressive in real life.

How to get to Ghent From Brussels Train: From €10.20/pax (~S$17) (36mins) Drive: ~1hr

Recommended accommodation in Belgium

Belgium has no shortage of unique accommodation options, including centuries-old palaces and even an old jail. Here’s where we stayed, what we loved about them and what you can find within walking distance of the property.

Brussels: Hotel Amigo

Photo credit: RFH Hotel Amigo

What we loved: Located strategically within walking distance of most Brussels attractions like the Grot Markt , Belgian Beer World , and the iconic Zennike Pis . It’s also surrounded by famous bars and restaurants like the Delirium Cafe (houses over 2,000 beers), Aux Armes de Bruxelles (Brussels Cuisine), La Table de Mus (fine dining), and Chez Léon (casual place for mussels and La Frites).

The interiors are modern and cosy, filled with character. Rooms are decorated with art pieces by surrealist artist René Magritte. There are even themed rooms like a Tintin Suite, a Diane von Fürstenberg Suite (Belgian-American fashion icon), and a presidential Suite that (hearsay) housed Barack Obama during his visit to Belgium.

Fun fact: Back in the day, the spot where the hotel stands was a prison. Legend has it that Spanish soldiers, who weren’t so good with Dutch, mistook “ vrunt ” (which means prison) for “ vriend ” (friend) and started calling it “amigo.” Fast forward to today, and the hotel’s official address is “Vruntstraat” in Dutch, or “rue de l’Amigo” in French. Lost-in-translation?

Bruges: Hotel Dukes’ Palace

Photo credit: Hotel Dukes’ Palace Bruges

What we loved: The only five-star hotel in Bruges, housed in a 15th-century Palace. It’s located in the heart of Bruges’ UNESCO World Heritage-listed city centre , which makes it a perfect base for exploring the medieval city. Major attractions like the Belfry of Bruges and the Markt Square are a short walk away.

Ghent: Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Reylof

Photo credit: Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Reylof

What we loved: Rooms are as luxurious as the other two, but this one had an indoor heated pool and sauna (unfortunately, we didn’t have time to enjoy). The breakfast here was also one of the most indulgent, and of course, it was located close to Ghent’s historic city centre. It’s within walking distance of the city’s top attractions, including the Gravensteen Castle , Saint Bavo’s Cathedral , and the charming canal where you can take boat rides. Guests can also explore Ghent’s cultural treasures and culinary delights, all a short walk from the hotel.

What’s surprising about being in Belgium

While there aren’t any bucket list experiences in this Belgium itinerary, it surprised me how drawn to the country I was at the end of the trip. Walking through its cobblestoned streets, taking in the atmosphere, and hearing locals speak proudly about their country does draw you into the charms of Belgium — especially the latter 🙃

If you ever find yourself itching for a European getaway, bookmark this quintessential guide to Belgium so you can add it to the start of your adventure!

One of Magritte’s famous sayings is, “It is not a question of surprising people with something, but of being surprised that one is surprised.

We hope you found this first-timer’s guide to Belgium helpful! What’s your favourite part about exploring new European cities? Share them with us in the comments!

This post was brought to you by Singapore Airlines and visit.brussels as part of a media familiarisation trip.

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Munich, a Euros guide: Where to go in Europe's beer garden capital

M unich is one of the ten venues for the upcoming European Football Championships, and fans from Germany, Scotland, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia, Ukraine and Denmark will be descending on the capital of Bavaria to cheer their teams on. Also, Munich's famed Allianz Arena will see one second-round match and one of the tournament's two semi-final matches.

The 2024 tournament kicks off in Munich on June 14 when Germany hosts Scotland. But whether you are here to actually attend a match, or just happen to be in Munich, the question is - where, from the fan viewpoint, will the action be happening? Where to experience the football atmosphere away from the stadium? And besides football, what else does Munich have to offer? Here are a few tips.

1. Public screenings

The official fan zone is in the Olympiapark (venue of the 1972 Summer Olympics), where all 51 tournament matches will be shown - free of charge. The setting, located near the majestic Olympic Stadium, is the Olympic Lake, where the TV broadcasts will be projected onto a 120 square-metre outdoor screen.

2. Stadium: Allianz Arena 

The Allianz Arena - home of football giant FC Bayern in the northern part of the city - is the venue for all the matches in Munich. Fans travelling from the Marienplatz square in the city centre are best advised to take the U6 subway line, a roughly 20-minute ride, to the Fröttmaning stop. During the championships the stadium will officially be called Fussball Arena München (Football Arena Munich).

If you're driving it is very important to know that beforehand you must book your parking permits for the public parking garages at the stadium. The number of permits is limited. Without advance booking you won't get in. Generally speaking, tournament organisers advise against driving with your car to the stadium.

3. Pilgrimage places for die-hard football fans

Munich stands for two major football clubs, the arch-rivals FC Bayern and TSV 1860 Munich. In the Allianz Arena, Bayern has established a museum which the club claims is the largest of its kind in Germany. You can book tickets to the museum online ahead of time and tickets can also be purchased in combination with a stadium tour.

But for some days during the tournament bookings cannot be made. A further pilgrimage point for Bayern fans is the team training quarters - with fan shop - in the Säbener Street in the southern part of the city. 

TSV 1860 Munich is not the great supra-regional footballing power like FC Bayern, but the club has many die-hard fans in the city. The Grünwalder Stadion of what fans call the "Sechziger" (Sixties) is in the Grünwalder Street in the district of Giesing. It was built in 1911 and is thereby the oldest stadium in Munich. It was also the largest until 1972, when the Olympic Stadium was opened. 

If the public viewing in the Olympic Park is too big for you, the "Stadion an der Schleißheimer Straße" - it's actually a pub - in the Maxvorstadt district might be a good bet. However, according to the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, what is "probably Munich's most famous football pub" is anything but an insider tip. So it's best to book a seat early.

4. What else Munich offers besides football 

The large open-air market Viktualienmarkt offers a full Bavarian experience: First Leberkäse (a kind of meat loaf) in a breadroll, then a stroll through the market stalls. If you still have time and the weather is fine, sit under the trees in the beer garden and drink a litre of beer while watching this archetypical Munich scene.

If you are already out and about in the city centre, you can also stop by Marienplatz square with the New Town Hall and carillon (daily at 11:00 and 12:00 and from March to October also at 17:00). Football fans will recognise the balcony: This is where FC Bayern celebrates the titles it has won with its supporters on the square below. Just around the corner is the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), which dominates Munich's cityscape with its two onion domes.

A dip in the Isar, the river that runs through the city, promises to cool you down in summer. The longest bathing zone close to the city centre is between Flauchersteg and Wittelsbacherbrücke.

To get a bit of fresh air and a break from the hustle and bustle, head to the English Garden, one of the largest inner-city parks in the world. It is also home to the Eisbach wave, where surfers show off their skills. If you like particularly well-kept parks, head to the west of the city to Nymphenburg Palace, once the summer residence of the Bavarian rulers.

If the weather is inclement, a magnificent indoor venue is the world-renowned museum of science and technology, Deutsches Museum, located on an island in the Isar River. There, 20,000 square metres of exhibition await you, so plan to budget a bit more of your time to take it all in.

From June 28 through July 7, a further diversion from the football frenzy will be the 41st Munich International Film festival , featuring films from around the world and screenings in several cinemas around the city.

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Fear you’ll never hear your favorite band live? These Maine tribute shows might do the trick

See homages to David Bowie, Prince, The Cure and The Rolling Stones in Portland this week, and other shows coming this summer.

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If you’ve never seen a tribute act perform the songs of artists that are either too big to play in Maine or who have passed away, there’s a way to do a whole bunch of that this week in Portland.

There are also tribute shows happening in venues around the state all summer long.

A Strange Day is the Portland-based tribute to The Cure. Photo by Seth D. Warner

Let’s start with Portland-based A Strange Day, a tribute to British alternative act The Cure, fronted by singer and guitarist Seth Warner.

The band will perform The Cure’s second album, “Seventeen Seconds,” in its entirety, along with some hits and other cuts at Portland House of Music on Thursday.

The album was released on April 18, 1980. Lead singer and guitarist Robert Smith turned 21 three days later. The single  “A Forest” marked the band’s debut on the U.K. Singles Chart, where it reached the No. 31 spot. The song remains a setlist staple at The Cure’s live performances.

Warner said he put himself in the shoes of Cure fans when deciding what album to cover. “What I would like to hear from a Cure band is a dive into the specific eras that surrounded each record, and ‘Seventeen Seconds’ set the tone for the more introspective and gloomy textures and themes.” Advertisement

As for Warner’s favorite “Seventeen Seconds” tracks, he said, “I really like ‘At Night’ for its dynamic potential, and the edgy and angsty ‘M.'”

The band took its name from the track “A Strange Day” from The Cure’s 1982 album “Pornography.”

Along with Warner, the band is Pete Dugas (keys), Andrew Hodgkins (drums), Matt Kennedy (synth/sax), Kevin O’Reilly (bass), Casey Urich (trumpet) and Corey Urich.

Angel Butts, a copy editor living in Westbrook, has seen The Cure more than 100 times on three continents and at least 10 countries, including Latvia and Colombia. “They’re like breathing to me. They have this massive catalog and it spans every possible mood, I don’t know of another band with a palette like that. “Seventeen Seconds” is among her favorite of the band’s 13 studio albums.

Butts has seen The Cure play the “Seventeen Seconds” album all the way through three times. “One of those shows stands as the best show I’ve ever seen in my life. The Cure: Reflections, Nov. 27, 2011 at the  Beacon Theatre in New York City.”

Butts said she and her 13-year-old daughter will be attending the A Strange Day show. “I think she’s more excited than I am.” Advertisement

A Strange Day  8:30 p.m. Thursday. Portland House of Music, 25 Temple St., Portland, $12 in advance, $15 day of show, 21-plus. portlandhouseofmusic.com

Another British act that will likely never perform in Maine is The Rolling Stones. With more than 30 albums, the band achieved legendary status decades ago. Singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards are both 80, and the band is currently on tour and will be at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, on Thursday.

There are still tickets left for that show, but you can save yourself hours of traffic jams and a lot of more by instead heading to Aura on Saturday to see Satisfaction: The International Rolling Stones tribute show. Or maybe you’ll see the real deal and then keep the party going here in Maine.

Satisfaction has been slinging Stones hits for over two decades and has played more than 4,000 shows. Chris LeGrand’s take on Mick Jagger is pretty convincing, and he and the band will surely be pleased to meet you.

Satisfaction: The International Rolling Stones Tribute Show 9 p.m. Saturday. Aura, 121 Center St., Portland, $15, $25.50, 18-plus. auramaine.com

The Prince/Bowie tribute act performing live. Photo by Tammie Birdwell

David Bowie and Prince died within five months of each other in 2016, at the ages of 69 and 57, respectively, and their losses were felt by millions of fans around the world. Advertisement

With contributions that are impossible to quantify, both artists left behind a legacy of music that lives on through radio play, home listening and tribute shows.

Boston-based musician Eric Gould loves both artists and is the bandleader of a Prince/Bowie tribute coming to Portland on Saturday. The band is a revolving lineup of players from all over the country.

Gould plays bass and designs the setlists. For this show, the musicians are Cal Kehoe (guitar, vocals), Adrian Tramontano (drums), Sammi Garrett (percussion, vocals), Josh Schwartz (baritone sax, vocals), Rob Somerville (tenor saxophone), Rob Volo (trombone) and Kiran Edwards (keys).

Gould said that, to him, Prince embodies soul, creative arrangement and precision. “His music has the best energy and makes you feel on top of the universe.”

He described Bowie as having a voice and character that is completely unique.

“It is powerful and epic and decadent,” said Gould, who has made a career out of finding unique connections through the songbooks of artists. “It is such a treat to present music people know and love in a way that is fresh to the ears. This combination brings so much joy to everyone on and off stage.” Advertisement

Prince/Bowie 8 p.m. Saturday. Portland House of Music, 25 Temple St., Portland, $25, 21-plus. portlandhouseofmusic.com

Other upcoming tribute shows

The Peacheaters: An Allman Brothers Band Experience, Friday. Jonathan’s, Ogunquit, $31 to $72.50. jonathansogunquit.com

Sweet Baby James: James Taylor Tribute, Saturday. Vinegar Hill Music Theatre, Arundel, $30 to $45. vinhillmusic.com

Studio Two: The Early Beatles Tribute, June 9. Vinegar Hill Music Theatre, Arundel, $30, $35. vinhillmusic.com

Magic Bus: A Tribute to The Who, June 14. Vinegar Hill Music Theatre, Arundel, $30. vinhillmusic.com Advertisement

The The Band Band, June 21. Vinegar Hill Music Theatre, Arundel, $45, $55. vinhillmusic.com

Bruce In The USA, June 21. Aura, Portland, $20 to $39.50. auramaine.com

Elvis Tribute Show, June 22, July 20. Jonathan’s, Ogunquit, $29 to $70. jonathansogunquit.com

Higher Ground: A Tribute to Stevie Wonder, July 20. Vinegar Hill Music Theatre, Arundel, $40. vinhillmusic.com

Studio Two: The Early Beatles Tribute, July 6. Jonathan’s, Ogunquit, $41.50 to $82.50. jonathansogunquit.com

Johnny Cash Tribute Show, July 7, Aug. 10.  Jonathan’s, Ogunquit, $29 to $70. jonathansogunquit.com Advertisement

Rose Alley: A Tribute to Jerry Garcia, June 28. Vinegar Hill Music Theatre, Arundel, $23. vinhillmusic.com

Runnin’ Down A Dream: The Tom Petty Tribute Band, July 13, Nov. 14. Jonathan’s, Ogunquit, $35 to $76. jonathansogunquit.com

The Elton John Experience, July 21. Jonathan’s, Ogunquit, $29 to $79. jonathansogunquit.com

Zach Nugent’s Dead Set, Aug. 1. Vinegar Hill Music Theatre, Arundel, $25. vinhillmusic.com

The Stray Horses, Aug. 8. Vinegar Hill Music Theatre, Arundel, $25. vinhillmusic.com

Wake Up Mama: The Allman Brothers Tribute Band, Aug. 24. Vinegar Hill Music Theatre, Arundel, $25. vinhillmusic.com

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