Huisbrouwerij De Halve Maan is a working family brewery on Walplein in Bruges, where beer has been brewed since 1856. A guided tour takes you through the brewing rooms and explains the brewery’s history and methods, then climbs to the roof for views across the city. Tours include a beer tasting, with Brugse Zot among the beers made here. You can also stop at the restaurant for Flemish dishes such as beef stew, or settle in for a drink in the courtyard or bar.
A working brewery in the old town
De Halve Maan has brewed beer on Walplein since 1856 and is the last working brewery in Bruges’ old town. It remains a family business, and the brewery makes Brugse Zot and Straffe Hendrik, among other beers. A tour gives you a look inside the working brewery and its museum, where brewing equipment and the site’s history explain how production has changed over time.
The brewery still operates in the city centre while sending beer to a bottling plant outside it. An underground pipeline, about 3 km long, carries the beer beneath the city. Its construction allowed the brewery to keep brewing on its historic site while moving beer to the plant for bottling.
What to expect on a tour
The standard guided tour takes about 40 to 45 minutes. Guides lead you through rooms and brewing equipment, covering the brewing process and the brewery’s history. Tours are available in English, French and Dutch. The route climbs through the building to the roof, where you can look out across Bruges. A tasting is included at the end, with the opportunity to try a brewery beer.
The XL tour lasts about 90 minutes and includes three tastings. Both versions involve stairs, some of them steep and narrow, and the route back down can feel more demanding. This is a practical consideration for anyone with mobility needs. Book ahead, since tours can fill up.
Beer and food at the brewery
You can visit the restaurant and bar without taking a tour. The menu includes Flemish classics such as beef stew and chicken pie, alongside bavette and fish strips with chimichurri sauce. A three-course meal pairing Belgian dishes with different beers is another option. The brewery also has a courtyard and outdoor seating, as well as an indoor bar.
Brugse Zot and Straffe Hendrik are two of the beers brewed here. The tour tasting is a chance to sample the brewery’s beer at its source, and the restaurant is a natural place to continue with a meal or another drink. If you are visiting for both the tour and food, leave more time than the tour alone requires.
Preguntas frecuentes
How long is the De Halve Maan Brewery tour?
The standard guided tour takes about 40 to 45 minutes. The XL tour lasts about 90 minutes and includes three tastings.
Does the brewery tour include a beer tasting?
Yes. The standard tour includes a beer tasting, and the XL tour includes three tastings.
Is the tour suitable for visitors with mobility needs?
The route has steep stairs and is not suitable for visitors with mobility needs.
Can you eat at De Halve Maan without taking a tour?
Yes. The brewery has a restaurant and bar, with Flemish dishes including beef stew and chicken pie.
