Belgian jenever is the ancestor of gin: a malt-wine spirit redistilled with juniper and botanicals, either served young (jonge jenever) or aged (oude jenever) in ceramic bolleke glasses at specialist jenever bars.
Jenever has been produced in Ghent since the 17th century when Flemish distillers developed malt wine-based spirits flavoured with juniper. The Belgian Jenever received Protected Geographical Indication status from the EU in 2008. Ghent's 't Dreupelkot on the Groentenmarkt is Belgium's most focused jenever bar: 100+ varieties, serving only in ceramic bolleke glasses, with no beer, wine or cocktails. The bar has served solely jenever since it opened in the 1980s.
2 editor picks for Ghent Jenever in Ghent, ranked by editorial score. All Ghent signature dishes · Ghent Jenever across every city.
't Dreupelkot ★ 4.3
groentenmarkt · Groentenmarkt 12, 9000 Gent
Pol's tiny jenever bar on the Groentenmarkt serves more than 200 jenevers, including around 50 made in-house. The low-ceilinged brown bar has barely changed.
Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant ★ 4.1
groentenmarkt · Groentenmarkt 9, 9000 Gent
Waterhuis aan de Bierkant is a canal-side brown pub on the Groentenmarkt with 170 Belgian beers, 14 on draught and a packed waterside terrace.