History
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.
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Common allergens: Gluten (malt base)
Make it at home
Ingredients
- Jenever is a licensed distilled spirit and cannot be legally produced at home in Belgium.
- To taste the full range: visit 't Dreupelkot on the Groentenmarkt for 100+ varieties.
- Ask for oude jenever (aged, round) vs jonge jenever (young, clean) to understand the style.
Method
- Commercial production: malt wine (distilled grain wash) is redistilled with juniper berries in a pot still.
- Jonge jenever uses a high proportion of neutral spirit; oude jenever uses a higher malt-wine fraction.
- Aged versions spend 12 months or more in oak casks, adding colour and rounded character.
- Serve at room temperature in a ceramic bolleke glass, filled to the brim.
- The traditional first sip: bend to the glass without touching it and sip the top off without spilling.
Tip from the editors. The proper service at 't Dreupelkot is a full bolleke glass; the standing-room format means you focus entirely on the drink.
Where to eat ghent jenever
Ghent Jenever in Ghent
't Dreupelkot ★ 4.4
't Dreupelkot on the Groentenmarkt is Ghent's legendary jenever bar: 100+ varieties in a dark wood-panelled room, open until 01:00 on weekends.
OrderOld Ghent jenever in a bolleke glass: the darkest style in the house range at the most authentic bar.
TipThe bar has no seating on busy nights; standing with a glass of jenever at the dark wooden counter is the intended experience.
Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant ★ 4.1
Waterhuis aan de Bierkant is a canal-side brown pub with 170 Belgian beers and 14 on draught, open until midnight, with a Graslei waterside terrace.
OrderGruut Amber on draught at the waterside terrace: the most Ghentian beer in the most Ghentian spot.
TipThe terrace lights up after dark and is one of the best spots in Ghent for a late canal-side beer in warm weather.
More places near 't Dreupelkot and Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant
Not on this list, but close by, nearest first. Every one is in our guide with its address, hours and what to order.
- Hot Club de Gand Cocktail bar, under 100 m away
- Frites Atelier Street food, under 100 m away
- Otomat Pizza, under 100 m away
- Waffles and Beer Street food, under 100 m away
- Julie's House Bakery, under 100 m away
- Himschoot Bakery Bakery, under 100 m away
More cities are in research. Want ghent jenever covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.