History

Brewery De Koninck opened on Mechelsesteenweg in 1833 and developed an Antwerp pale ale that became the Bolleke. The name refers to the short stemmed glass; ordering one is the city's everyday shorthand. The brewery still operates from the original building; tours end with a freshly poured glass. The annual Bollekesfeest in August pours Bolleke across Grote Markt for three days each year.

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Common allergens: Gluten

Make it at home

Yield 1Hands-on 5 minTotal 5 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 1 bottle of De Koninck Bolleke (33cl)
  • 1 clean short-stem bolleke glass

Method

  1. Chill the bottle to 6 to 8C, not colder.
  2. Hold the bolleke glass at a 45-degree angle.
  3. Pour the beer slowly down the side of the glass, gradually straightening to vertical.
  4. Aim for a two-finger head of dense, off-white foam.
  5. Serve immediately.

Tip from the editors. The bolleke glass is short and rounded for a reason: it concentrates the aroma. Drinking it from anything else lessens the experience.

Where to eat antwerps bolleke

Antwerps Bolleke in Antwerp

De Koninck Antwerp City Brewery ★ 4.5

€€ BreweryBelgian pale ale (Bolleke), De Koninck Tripel, Wild Jo lambicHet Zuid

De Koninck in Antwerp has brewed Belgian pale ale on Mechelsesteenweg since 1833. The Bolleke poured in its short stem glass is the city's everyday beer.

TipThe brewery tour ends with a freshly poured Bolleke. Reserve ahead for weekends.

Directions Book

Den Engel ★ 4.2

€€ BelgianHistorisch CentrumUntil Mon-Fri until 01:00, Sat-Sun to 03:00

Den Engel on Grote Markt 3 stays open until 01:00 weekdays and 03:00 weekends. The brown cafe has anchored the corner since 1903 in a 14th-century building.

TryBrown-cafe nibbles and Belgian beer

TipWeekend last orders around 02:30. The terrace fills before the bar.

Directions

't Oud Arsenaal ★ 4.8

€€ BelgianHistorisch Centrum

't Oud Arsenaal: 1924 brown cafe with unchanged interior, antique wallpaper and two cats curled on a potbelly stove. Weekend opens at 07:30 for the regulars.

Why locals go1924 brown cafe with unchanged interior, antique wallpaper and two cats curled on a potbelly stove. Weekend opens at 07:30 for the regulars.

TipClosed Mon-Tue. The Saturday early-morning sitting fills with locals before tourists wake.

Directions

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