De Halve Maan Brewery

Overview

De Halve Maan is Bruges' last remaining active city-centre brewery, producing the popular Brugse Zot and Straffe Hendrik beers. The guided tour climbs to the rooftop for panoramic views before descending to the historic copper brewhouse.

Highlights

• Rooftop panorama: The brewery's roof terrace offers one of the best 360-degree views of Bruges.
• Underground beer pipeline: In 2016, a 3.2 km pipeline was built under the city to transport beer to the bottling plant — a world first.
• Tasting: Every tour ends with a complimentary Brugse Zot in the atmospheric bar.

History

Brewing has taken place on this site since 1564. The Maes family took over in 1856 and renamed it De Halve Maan (The Half Moon). Xavier Vanneste, sixth-generation owner, reopened the brewery in 2005 after it had outsourced production.

Visitor Tips

• Book online: Tours fill up quickly, especially on weekends.
• XL tour: The extended tasting tour includes extra beers and a cheese pairing.
• Duration: 45 minutes–1 hour.