Brasserie Van Haelen

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Brewery photo taken prior to demolition in 1971.

History

Van Haelen Frères operated their brewery in Uccle-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, of 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. 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 Theo Hanssens of Hanssens Artisanaal bvba and Luc Vanhonsebrouck further abroad in Inglemunster. His St. Louis products debuted in 1958, using barrels inoculated with Van Haelen Freres lambic wort. ^[1]

Frans Van Haelen, 1910. Source: Flanders magazine.

Frans Van Haelen (1872-1939)

Frans Van Haelen was also a well known 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) and Felix De Boeck (1898-1995). They assembled at the brewery, and also worked in a loft above the Cafe Les 3 Pigeons across the street from the brewery. A private gallery was constructed inside the brewery, and Van Haelen's home was full of fine art and antiquities. Van Haelen was a friend of famous Belgian artist James Ensor, and several Ensor paintings were seen hanging inside the brewery before it was demolished in 1971 to build a Delhaize supermarket. Van Haelen also sponsored the restoration of the castle in Beersel from 1928-1939. He was said to be the richest man in Beersel before the second world war.

The tram stop in Calevoet near the former brewery site is named Van Haelen in honor of the former lambic brewery and local heritage.