The Belgian Heritage

Things you must know about Belgium & the
Belgian Beer Café!
Introduction

In this booklet, we are going to introduce you to the
Belgian culture & heritage.
You’ll learn more about typical old traditions and why
you’ll see it today in the Belgian Beer Cafés.
Let yourself immerse into the Belgian atmosphere!
Belgium: The country

 Belgium is situated between France,
Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany.
the
 The capital of Belgium is Brussels: a bilingual city in
the heart of Belgium.
 Belgium is referred to as the Essence of Europe:
Belgium is both multicultural and multilingual.
Facts about Belgium

 Belgium is a young nation(1830). It’s overrun in the past by the Spanish, the
French, the Austrians, the Dutch and the Germans. That’s why it’s a melting
pot of cultures straddling the boundary between the Germanic and Latin
worlds.
 There are 6 million Flemings, 3,5 million Walloons and 1 million inhabitants
of Brussels.
 Belgium captures 0,02% of the earth’s surface and 0,16% of the world
population.
 Belgium has a surface of 30 528 km². It’s quit flat, with the Signal de Botrange
(694 meters) in the High Fens as it highest point.
Belgium: The
beercountry

Belgium is mostly known for its beer, chocolate and diamonds. It is a genuine
paradise for gourmet lovers. Belgian cuisine is as good as the French one, and as
generous as the German one. Belgium has over one hundred breweries for about
10 million inhabitants. Nowhere else can so many different brewing styles be
found. There are approximately 500 different beers with their own composition
and character, all served with their own glass.
Unique elements in the
Belgian Beer Café

Every Belgian Beer Café is unique and yet recognizable with its signature
interior and the Belgian Beer Café logo. We encourage each Belgian Beer Café
to portray a specific theme such as the Belgian Royal family, fishing culture,
pigeon racing, cycling…. And to carry an individualized name such as Olivier,
Antwerp Central, Brussels,…
Elements of the cyclist
café

 Cyclists have always been the people’s heroes in Belgium.
 The local café was of course the place where supporters would gather
around a glass of beer to share the latest triumphs of the local champions.
Elements of the farmers
café

 Living in the countryside has never been easy. Farmers were busy all day
through, having to be on standby even at night or in the weekend.
 On the rare moments, they would meet each other in the local café, where they
forgot about social standards and engaged in loud, endless fun.
Elements of student café

 Belgium have always had a lively tradition of students clubs in each of the
university cities.
 Students gather in their favorite café, a place they can call home as they very
often studied far from their parents to simply enjoy life, and sometimes sing
traditional songs and perform beer drinking competitions with many “ad
fundums”.
 The quality of the furniture allows people to easily dance on chairs and tables
once the party is started!
Elements of fishermen’s
café

 Another theme you can find is that of the Fisherman’s café: a shelter for those
men who braved the North Sea no matter how good or bad the weather was,
to bring back some of the delicacies that one can enjoy in the Belgian Beer Café
today, be it mussels, haring, grey shrimps or soles.
Elements of Pigeon
racing

 Believe it or not, but pigeon racing has always been a popular sport in Belgium.
It was developed by Belgians in the 19th century. According to tradition, every
Sunday morning, there would be a race and even more surprising is that these
races were on international basis.
 People would gather at the local café! This is why you find statues of pigeons,
trophies, old pictures of this sport in so many Belgian Beer Cafés around the
world.
An extensive choice of
beer

 Typically in the Belgian Beer Café, you will find a range between 20 to 40
different beers selected among the best beers in every type: lager, white,
abbey, fruit, Gueuze and Lambic, Trappist, and specialty beers.
A broad range on tap

 The common way to enjoy a Belgian Beer is naturally on tap.
 However, in the Belgian Beer Cafés we always respect the Stella Artois™
pouring ritual. We apply this ritual for world famous beers from AB InBev
like Stella Artois™, Hoegaarden, the Leffe Abbey beers or Belle Vue Kriek
The right glassware

 One essential element of the Belgian Beer culture is the use of appropriate
branded glassware to let you enhance your consumer’s experience. Every beer
has its unique glass developed by the brew masters to enhance the view, taste
and smell of the beer so that it can express its full character.
Belgian Delights

 Belgian cuisine can best be defined as a delicate and sophisticated cuisine like
in France, yet in generous portions like in Germany…
 Some of the dishes are made of beer.
 We provide a customized beer and food pairing program to train all waiters
to beer sommeliers so they can recommend you the perfect beer to
accompany the right dish.
Writing on the wall

 Very often in Belgian Beer Café, we write on the walls… either in Flemish or
French. And many times your wait staff will be asked to translate the meaning
to a customer. It might be famous lyrics of Belgian songs from Jacques Brel or
traditional Belgian sayings such as: “In Heaven there is no beer, so drink it here
whilst still on”.
Music

 In the first part of the 20th century, it was very common for a local brass
band to come together at the local café every week to practice their best
songs.
 As another service to our partners, we provide guidance on what kind of
Belgian music you could play, however, you could also invite a local band
to play in your outlet.
The 5-before-12 clock

 The local policeman, also called “champeter”, used to check
whether the cafés in his village close in time. The law dictated
that all cafés had to close at midnight. The Belgians couldn’t
care less about closing times.
 Café owners came up with the ingenious idea to block the
clock’s big hand at five to midnight with a nail. “Time for one
last beer”!
The saving box

 Workers used to get their wages every week in cash. They wanted to
squander this money in a café. But if they drank their pay in the café, their
wives couldn’t do the shopping. So the café owner first made the workers
put a part of their wages in the savings box. That way they couldn’t spend it.
When the worker left the pub, he got his money back.
Conclusion

 Belgium has a great history in hospitality. The Belgians enjoy life with a nice
fresh beer and a delicious meal in a domestic atmosphere.
 The Belgian Beer Café creates a refuge after a hectic working day or adds the
finishing touch to the end of a pleasant day. It is a welcoming, friendly
environment with an authentic interior for anyone who loves life and enjoys
relaxing with a great beer and a tasty meal. Here, genuine hospitality is key
as you are a true guest in our Belgian home.
Sip. Share. Savor.
