Het Anker is one of Belgium’s oldest breweries, and it stands inside the Great Beguinage of Mechelen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which makes it one of the most atmospheric places to learn how Belgian beer is made. The brewery is best known for Gouden Carolus, and its guided visit tells the story of the beer and of how whisky is made from it, ending with two tastings. The three copper brew kettles date from after the Second World War, and the family that runs the brewery restored the buildings and modernised the equipment in the 1990s. A brasserie and restaurant serve food and beer in tasting glasses on the ground floor, so it is easy to turn the tour into a relaxed lunch.
What it is
A guided brewery and distillery visit with English-language tours at set times each week, covering the history of the beer and the making of whisky from beer, with two tastings included. The Gouden Carolus range includes the Classic, which has won gold at the World Beer Awards. The setting is half the attraction: old brewing buildings inside a medieval beguinage, a short walk from Mechelen’s centre.
Practical details
The brewery is at Guido Gezellelaan 49 in Mechelen, easy to reach by train from Antwerp followed by a walk or short ride. The brasserie is open daily from morning into the evening, and English tours run on several days at fixed times; check the ticket shop for the current schedule, as times may change, and book ahead because tours are popular. The tour involves about 100 stairs and is not wheelchair accessible, though the ground-floor restaurant is. Group visits are available for ten to twenty-five people in Dutch, French or English.
Making the most of it
Combine the tour with an afternoon in Mechelen’s old town, the Grote Markt and St Rumbold’s Cathedral, and time your lunch in the brasserie around the tour. If you are travelling from Antwerp, a day that links the Het Anker visit, the Toy Museum or Kazerne Dossin and a stroll through the beguinage makes a good outing.
Beer lovers who stay in the city can compare the experience with the De Koninck tour in Antwerp, which is more modern and self-guided. Drink responsibly if you are driving, and use the train.
What to expect
The experience
A guided brewery and distillery visit with two tastings, in a historic brewery inside the Great Beguinage.
Best time
Book an English-language tour slot, then lunch in the brasserie.
How long
About two hours including a drink.
Tips
Check the ticket shop for tour times, expect about 100 stairs and take the train from Antwerp.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Beer lovers and anyone who enjoys historic settings.
- Families
- Suitable for adults and older teenagers; not wheelchair friendly.
- Couples
- A lovely excuse for a half-day in Mechelen.
- Pair with
- Mechelen’s Great Beguinage and old town, or the Toy Museum.
- Time needed
- About two hours.
Good questions
Where is Het Anker?+
At Guido Gezellelaan 49 in Mechelen, inside the Great Beguinage, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What is included in the visit?+
A guided tour of the brewery and distillery with two tastings.
Are tours in English?+
Yes, English tours run on several days at set times, so check the ticket shop for the current schedule.
Is the tour accessible?+
The tour involves about 100 stairs and is not wheelchair accessible, though the ground-floor restaurant is.
What beer is it known for?+
Gouden Carolus, whose Classic has won gold at the World Beer Awards.
