Brouwerij Het Anker

Northeast Belgium

LoginSave

Operational since 1471, Het Anker is one of Belgium's oldest and most celebrated breweries. Most days there's at least one brewery tour (€8, two beers and a soft drink included). Or just head straight to the brasserie-bar to guzzle a range of classic Gouden Carolus beers. The beer-paired classic Belgian food is excellent too (mains €16 to €24).

There are seven beers on tap, all available in 150mL taster sizes (€2) for those who don't want to get too tipsy tasting their way through the full range. A particular delight is the chance to try glasses of specialist brews normally only available in 750ml bottles, including the refreshingly herb-infused Indulgence and thrillingly rich Imperial Dark.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Museum Plantin-Moretus

    Museum Plantin-Moretus

    13.31 MILES

    The medieval building and 1622 courtyard garden alone would be worth a visit, but it's the world's oldest printing press, priceless manuscripts and…

  • The museum of musical instruments "Old England", Brussels, Belgium

    Old England Building

    13.97 MILES

    This 1899 former department store is an art nouveau showpiece with a black facade aswirl with wrought iron and arched windows. The building contains the…

  • BELGIUM - AUGUST 11: BELGIUM, BRUSSELS, The Grand Place in Brussels. (Photo by Ulrich Baumgarten via Getty Images)

    Grand Place

    13.82 MILES

    Brussels’ magnificent Grand Place is one of the world’s most unforgettable urban ensembles. Oddly hidden, the enclosed cobblestone square is only revealed…

  • MIM

    MIM

    13.97 MILES

    Strap on a pair of headphones, then step on the automated floor panels in front of the precious instruments (including world instruments and Adolphe Sax’s…

  • Musée Horta

    Musée Horta

    15.23 MILES

    The typically austere exterior doesn’t give much away, but Victor Horta’s former home (designed and built 1898–1901) is an art nouveau jewel. The…

  • St-Gilles Town Hall facade

    St-Gilles Town Hall

    15.36 MILES

    One of Brussels’ overlooked architectural wonders, this splendid Napoleon III–style palace

  • Musée Hergé

    Musée Hergé

    25.66 MILES

    The inventive and touchingly nostalgic Hergé Museum celebrates the multitalented creator of comic-strip hero Tintin with an engaging, inventive and…

  • Memorial 1815

    Memorial 1815

    24.51 MILES

    Inaugurated for the 2015 bicentenary, this showpiece underground museum and visitor centre at the battlefield gives some detail on the background to…

View more attractions

Nearby Northeast Belgium attractions

1. Begijnhof

0.05 MILES

Mechelen’s begijnhof is no longer walled but retains an area of flower-strung old-city lanes with plenty of charm. The junction of Schrijnstraat and…

2. Het Zotte Kunstkabinet

0.22 MILES

This eccentric little shop-museum is great if you can catch it open, and has some fun with the 'crazy' hell scenes and frolicking odd folk of 16th-century…

3. De Wit Royal Manufacturers

0.24 MILES

Established in 1889, this workshop is one of the few places in Belgium where you can see contemporary tapestries being woven and antique ones from all…

4. Tongerlo Refuge

0.24 MILES

In medieval times, abbots from wealthy monasteries would often travel to Mechelen to consult the primate (archbishop) and thus required city residences…

5. Op-Sinjoorke Statue

0.27 MILES

Landing on his back with limbs akimbo, the giant yellow character that you see in the grassy contoured space north of St-Romboutskathedraal is Op…

6. Kazerne Dossin

0.3 MILES

The 18th-century Dossin Barracks were used by the Nazis as a WWII deportation centre. Some 25,834 victims (mainly Jewish, 352 Roma) were sent in 28…

7. St-Romboutskathedraal

0.31 MILES

This soaring, Gothic-vaulted cathedral features a 1723 monumental pulpit, a 1630 Van Dyck crucifixion scene in the south transept, and dozens more fine…

8. St-Janskerk

0.35 MILES

Built in white sandstone, the 15th-century Gothic church of the 'two Johns' (Baptist and Evangelist) looks fairly unremarkable from the outside. However,…