History

Late last century, in 1897, a certain Arthur Van den Bossche bought a plot of land at the beautiful village square in Sint-Lievens-Esse. When he could not suspect that he would be the founder of a great brewing family. Arthur Van den Bossche was married to a daughter of the family Callebaut in Wieze. Now this family primarily known for the chocolate, once they made reputation as a brewer sex. After all, the family Callebaut had both a brewery and a chocolate and contrary to what one might suppose, the production of beer was more important than the manufacture of chocolate. Even more: the beer, the chocolate could keep their heads above water.
Arthur wanted the example of his in-laws also start brewing. He left on his plot of land next to a large mansion therefore also build a brewery. So it was that more than 100 years ago for the first beer spilled from the brew kettles in Sint-Lievens-Esse.

In 1925 after the death of Arthur Van den Bossche is his wife and later his two sons Willy and Marc Van den Bossche, who is the current '' BVBA Van Den Bossche '' have developed into a thriving business.

Ignace Van den Bossche son Mark comes as a partner in the brewery in 1975 and Managing Director in 1981.
Since then the company will be modernized.

Currently, the 4th generation is also active in the brewery. Bruno Van den Bossche, the eldest son of Ignace is responsible for the commercial activities of the brewery. Also Emmanuel, the youngest son of Ignace has recently become active in the brewery.

The brewery and its water

For years, know the farmers of Sint-Lievens-Esse and surrounding the brewery not only as a supplier of beer but also as a supplier of drinking water for their cows and horses.

When water shortage is indeed always called upon the seemingly inexhaustible Steenput of the brewery. During the hot summer of 1978 the brewery was pumping 50 000 liters of water per week for the farmers alone, without speaking of the water the brewery itself needs to brew and bottle.

Until a few years ago, people were convinced that all that water came from underground Steenput, until one after some digging work came to the conclusion that the water from a real source is the water indicates an underground reservoir from which the brewing water is pumped . The source is located in a small valley that runs around the town square and ends at the Sint-Lievens source mentioned in the history books of Sint-Lievens-Esse, and which would contain a healing power.

Article number: FBB26510