Brasserie Van Haelen

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Brewery photo taken prior to demolition in 1971.

History

Van Haelen Frères operated their brewery in Calevoet (Beersel) from 1902 until 1967. Dominique and Frans Van Haelen were brothers, and sons of Pauline Lardinoy from her first marriage to Auguste Van Haelen, from a well known brewing family in Uccle. The two brothers took over the Fontaine brewery ('t Fonteintje), run by their parents J.B. Michiels and Pauline Lardinoy, which was previously a brewery site dating back to 1751. Dominique was the brewer and Frans handled business matters. Van Haelen Frères produced Gueuze, Kriek, and Lambic, also supplying wort to local blenders such as Gaston Debelder of Drie Fonteinen, Theo Hanssens of Hanssens Artisanaal bvba, and Luc Vanhonsebrouck further abroad in Inglemunster. Today the former brewery site is a Delhaize supermarket. The tram stop in Calevoet near the former brewery site is named Van Haelen in honor of the former lambic brewery and local heritage. ^[1]

Frans Van Haelen, 1910. Source: Flanders magazine.

Frans Van Haelen (1872-1939)

Frans Van Haelen was well known as a cultural figure in his time, a patron of the arts and benefactor to the pre-war artist group later known as the Brabant Fauves. This group included the artists Rik Wouters (1882-1916), Louis Thevenet (1874-1930), and Felix De Boeck (1898-1995). Flemish author Herman Teirlinck (1879-1967) was also associated with the group, also known as the "Calevoeters". With Teirlinck, he also co-chaired De Eendracht, a local theater group in Linkebeek. The artists often assembled at the brewer's home, and worked in a loft above the Cafe Les 3 Pigeons across the street from the brewery. This space was provided by Van Haelen along with ample food and libations, and crates of gueuze were sometimes exchanged for artworks. A private gallery was constructed inside the brewery, and Van Haelen's home was full of fine art and antiquities. Van Haelen was also a friend of famous Belgian artist James Ensor (1860-1949), several of his paintings were even hanging inside the brewery before it was demolished in 1971.

Van Haelen also sponsored the restoration of Beersel Castle from 1928-1939, as an early proponent of tourism to the Senne Valley region. He was said to be the richest man in Beersel before the second world war.