Brouwerij De Halve Maan

About the museum

De Halve Maan is a family brewery in the heart of Bruges. The company refers to a brewing tradition of six generations going back to 1856. Here, among others, the Brugse Zot and the Straffe Hendrik are brewed. Within the historic building the tour runs from the brew hall past the brewing equipment used over the centuries, all the way up to the roof, where visitors enjoy a wide view over the city.

In 2016 the brewery laid an underground beer pipeline about three kilometres long between the brewhouse in the centre and the bottling plant on the edge of the city. When the tour was renewed in April 2024, modern audiovisual elements were added, including a virtual experience about that beer pipeline and the bottling plant. According to the brewery, around 100,000 visitors come each year.

The Brouwerijmuseum Brugge was founded in 1990 by the vzw 't Hamerken to preserve Bruges brewing heritage. Since 2005 it has been housed on a basement floor of this brewery. Today De Halve Maan presents its visit mainly as a brewery tour with a tasting.

Highlights

• Tour from the brew hall up to the roof, with panoramic views of Bruges
• Old brewing equipment from different centuries
• Virtual experience about the underground beer pipeline
• Tasting of unfiltered Brugse Zot or Straffe Hendrik
• Brasserie and gift shop on the Walplein

Permanent exhibition

• Rondleiding door de brouwerij – A guide leads you from the brew hall past the old brewing equipment up to the roof, with views over Bruges; the tour ends with a tasting.

Operated by

Brouwerij De Halve Maan

Admission & discounts

The standard tour (€16) includes one tasting. Residents of Bruges can take part in a standard tour for free after reservation via info@halvemaan.be (bring your identity card); you pay for the drink after the tour yourself. Group and private tours are possible on request.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The tour has 220 steps spread over four floors, with two steep and narrow staircases, so it is not suitable for visitors with motor or visual impairments. For them the brewery offers a digital tour on an iPad with headphones. For hard-of-hearing visitors a printed text brochure is available on request. The brasserie and the function rooms are accessible by a wheelchair lift and have an adapted toilet; the terrace is paved with cobblestones.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Baby changing facilities

The tourism portal Visit Bruges calls the brewery child-friendly, with a high chair and a baby changing table. After the tour, children get a soft drink instead of beer. Because of the many stairs the tour is less suitable with a pushchair.

Getting there & parking

Take the city of Bruges' mobility plan and parking tariffs into account.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Brasserie De Halve Maan with terrace and gift shop on the Walplein. The tourism portal Visit Bruges lists Wi-Fi as a facility.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

The brewery hires out meeting and event rooms on the first and second floors above the restaurant.

Plan your visit