De Halve Maan Brewery

Located at the Walplein in Bruges, De Halve Maan is the last authentic family brewery still operating in the city center. It has been run by the Maes family for six generations, preserving a rich legacy of Belgian brewing. The brewery is famous for its Brugse Zot, a blond beer that has won numerous international awards, and the stronger Straffe Hendrik. A marvel of modern engineering, the brewery installed a 3-kilometer underground pipeline in 2016 to transport beer from the historic brewing site to their bottling plant outside the city, reducing truck traffic and preserving the medieval streets.

Reasons to Visit

• Taste unfiltered, unpasteurized Brugse Zot straight from the source.
• Experience a comprehensive guided tour detailing centuries of brewing history.
• Enjoy breathtaking 360-degree panoramic views of Bruges from the brewery's rooftop.
• Learn about the innovative underground beer pipeline.
• Relax in a charming, historic courtyard tavern with excellent local food pairings.

Things to Avoid

• Avoid wearing high heels or slippery shoes, as the tour involves steep, narrow, and sometimes wet stairs.
• Don't arrive without a reservation during peak summer months or weekends, as tours sell out quickly.
• Avoid driving to the brewery; the medieval streets of Bruges are best navigated on foot or by bicycle.

Local Transportation Tips

Bruges is a highly walkable city, and De Halve Maan Brewery is easily accessible on foot from the central Market Square (Grote Markt) in about 10-15 minutes. Bicycles are also a popular and convenient way to get around. If you are arriving by train, the Bruges railway station is a short 15-minute walk or a quick bus ride away. Cars are discouraged in the historic center, but parking is available at the nearby 't Zand or the train station parking lots.

Travel Etiquette

• Respect the historic nature of the building by not touching the brewing equipment during the tour.
• Tipping is not strictly required in Belgium as service is included, but rounding up the bill for good service in the tavern is appreciated.
• Keep noise levels moderate in the courtyard to respect the surrounding residential neighborhood.

Recommended Age Group

De Halve Maan Brewery offers an engaging experience primarily tailored for adults, though older children can also appreciate the history.

• Babies (0-2 years): Not Recommended. The tour involves steep, narrow stairs that are not stroller-friendly or safe for carrying infants.
• Kids (3-12 years): Neutral. While they may enjoy the rooftop views, the brewing process details and steep stairs might not be ideal for younger children.
• Teens (13-19 years): Recommended. Teens can appreciate the industrial history, the engineering of the beer pipeline, and the panoramic city views.
• Adults (20-64 years): Recommended. Perfect for adults looking to learn about Belgian beer culture and enjoy authentic tastings.
• Seniors (65+ years): Neutral. The tasting room and courtyard are highly recommended, but the guided tour involves steep stairs which may be challenging for those with mobility issues.

Accessibility Level: Medium

• The tavern, courtyard, and ground-floor facilities are fully wheelchair accessible.
• The guided historical tour is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible due to numerous steep and narrow staircases.
• Accessible restrooms are available on the ground floor for tavern and restaurant guests.

Did You Know?

De Halve Maan made global headlines in 2016 when they crowdfunded and built a 3.2-kilometer underground pipeline to pump their beer from the historic city center brewery to their modern bottling plant, successfully keeping heavy delivery trucks out of the UNESCO-protected medieval streets.

Cool Statistics

• Established in 1856 by Leon Maes.
• The underground beer pipeline can pump up to 4,000 liters of beer per hour.
• Brugse Zot was launched in 2005 and quickly became the official city beer of Bruges.
• The brewery has been managed by 6 consecutive generations of the same family.