Grimbergen Beer & more - Half day trip from Brussels

This article first appeared in My Travelogue by Bhushavali
 
HALF-DAY TRIP FROM BRUSSELS BY BUS

Just like Chimay Beer and Leffe Beer, Grimbergen beer is also well known in Belgium and it is also an Abbey beer that was initially brewed by monks in an abbey! Grimbergen is perhaps the closest Abbey beer town to Brussels (Cantillon Brewery within Brussels is not an Abbey beer). Reachable by DeLijn bus from Brussels in about 30 mins, Grimbergen is an easy half-day trip from Brussels though you can easily spend an entire day as well.
Also Read: Half-Day trips from Brussels - Things to do in Flemish Brabant
I visited Grimbergen on 2 different half-day trips from Brussels. Once just to visit MOT and another to visit Prinsenbos, Castle, & Grimbergen Abbey.

Grimbergen Abbey beer | Best Belgian Beers

Grimbergen Abbey | Saint Servatius Basilica | Sint-Servaasbasiliek | Abdij van Grimbergen
Sint Servatius Basilica, Grimbergen

Liermolen | Water mill Grimbergen | Museum of Old Techniques Grimbergen | Het MOT
Liermolen

Guldendal Prinsenbos | Museum of Old Techniques Grimbergen | Het MOT
Het MOT | Museum of Old Techniques Guldendal

Prinsenbos Prinsenkasteel Grimbergen Castle | Het MOT | Museum of Old Techniques | Things to do in Grimbergen
Prinsenkasteel | Grimbergen Castle

Prinsenbos Prinsenkasteel Grimbergen Castle | Het MOT | Museum of Old Techniques | Things to do in Grimbergen
Prinsenkasteel | Grimbergen Castle

TOP PLACES TO VISIT & THINGS TO DO IN GRIMBERGEN
 
PRINSENBOS & GRIMBERGEN CASTLE
As soon as I reached Grimbergen, my first stop was the Prisenbos. The word Prinsenbos literally means 'Prince Forest'. There's a tiny castle in the heart of this wooded area.  This was built in the 1500s but on the foundations of a 13th C Castle which was built by the lords of Grimbergen. It is probably a wooden castle at that point in time. It was in the late 17th C CE the King of Spain elevated the lordship of Grimbergen to a principality which is why it is called so. The castle is almost gone except for its keep (watchtower) in ruins (thanks to WW2) and I thought it cannot be entered! But guess what, it can be entered and can be climbed as well and it houses a permanent exhibition as well. The castle is currently managed by MOT (more details below) and the ticket to the museum also includes entry to this castle! 
In the 17th C itself, the castle was surrounded by a moat & a garden. Today, the moat serves as a pond and the garden is gone. But the forest all around it exists and there are pathways where you can walk/bike and watch/hear some songbirds. 
Just outside the castle, various activities and workshops are organized by MOT. I saw a traditional, handmade oven just outside the castle the day I visited. Inside the castle, there are 3 floors (and 3 flights of stairs) that talk all about the castle's history, architecture, etc.

Where is Prinsenbos (on Google Maps)? Prinsenbos
Where is Prinsenkasteel (on Google Maps)Grimbergen Castle
How to reach Prinsenbos & Prinsenkasteel? The nearest bus stops are Grimbergen Triohofstraat (on DeLijn Bus Routes 230, 231, 232) and Grimbergen Hoge Steenweg (DeLijn Bus Route 821)
Prinsenbos tickets: Free
Prinsenbos timings: 24x7
Prinsenbos walking map: via Natuur en bos
Prinsenkasteel tickets: Same as MOT Guldendal below
Prinsenkasteel timings: Same as MOT Guldendal below

Prinsenbos Prinsenkasteel Grimbergen Castle | Het MOT | Museum of Old Techniques | Things to do in Grimbergen

Prinsenbos Prinsenkasteel Grimbergen Castle | Het MOT | Museum of Old Techniques | Things to do in Grimbergen

Prinsenbos Prinsenkasteel Grimbergen Castle | Het MOT | Museum of Old Techniques | Things to do in Grimbergen

Prinsenbos Prinsenkasteel Grimbergen Castle | Het MOT | Museum of Old Techniques | Things to do in Grimbergen

Prinsenbos Prinsenkasteel Grimbergen Castle | Het MOT | Museum of Old Techniques | Things to do in Grimbergen

Prinsenbos Prinsenkasteel Grimbergen Castle | Het MOT | Museum of Old Techniques | Things to do in Grimbergen

MUSEUM OF OLD TECHNIQUES - MOT GRIMBERGEN IN PRINSENBOS, GULDENDAL, LIERMOLEN &  TOMMENMOLEN
The Museum of Old Techniques is one of the best museums in Belgium to visit with kids. A major section of the museum is hands-on and kids get to try it all out. The museum is actually in 3 separate buildings and the main building is the one inside Prisenbos beside the castle and that's where we went first. 
This main building of MOT is called the Guldendal. When the castle was functional, the Guldendal was the building that served as the horse stables and storage rooms of the castle. As the name suggests Museum of Old Techniques explains how things were done in the past - manual labor and basic instruments. The first room is dedicated to laundry! From the historic times of just a well & a clothesline to the manual washing machines with wooden barrels & then steel barrels and then the era of semi-automatic washing machines. The next room is dedicated to iron-smithery. Apart from the historic tools on display, some of those tools were also on a work table, so that kids to try their hand at them! The upper floor is dedicated to woodwork? There's a tiny attic further up, complete with a work table, which is entirely dedicated for kids to try out many things! If you visit the museum with young kids, you could easily spend a few hours at the museum, as they try out all these! 
My next stop was Liermolen which is located in a different building about a km away. As the name suggests, Liermolen is a mill (the Dutch word Molen means Mill) and here, it's a watermill built in 17-18th C CE. There's a permanent exhibition inside from cultivating wheat all the way to grinding the grains in traditional mills. incl. the historic tools used for harvesting, threshing, winnowing, etc. There are functional models of both windmills & watermills. Also, it explains how the grains & flour were transported in sacks on horse carts. There's also the explanation of how bread was baked in traditional manual, mud ovens! Outside, the wheel of the watermill is still intact to see. There are also a few benches around here, to have a very peaceful time hearing the flowing water!
The next stop was, of course, Tommenmolen. This is also a watermill built in 16th C, but renovated in 19th C CE. There's a horse mill just outside the barn. Today the barn houses a restaurant and it is absolutely awesome, peaceful, and nice to sit outside and eat here when the weather is nice. There's no other exhibition or anything in Tommenmolen.

Where is MOT Guldendal - Museum of Old Techniques Grimbergen (on Google Maps)Het MOT
How to reach MOT Guldendal - Museum of Old Techniques GrimbergenSame as Prinsenbos above
Where is MOT Liermolen (on Google Maps)?  Liermolen
How to reach MOT Liermolen? 1.3km (15 mins walk) from Het MOT
Where is MOT Tommenmolen (on Google Maps)? Tommenmolen
How to reach MOT Tommenmolen? 500m (6 mins walk) from Liermolen

MOT (Museum of Old Techniques Grimbergen) tickets: €6 (for all 3 museums & castle combined)
MOT (Museum of Old Techniques Grimbergen) timings: 10:00AM to 05:00PM (Guldendal is normally only during weekdays but also open on weekends from April to September. Liermolen & Tommenmolen are open only from April to November. They have a winter closure from Dec-Mar.)

Guldendal Prinsenbos | Museum of Old Techniques Grimbergen | Het MOT

Guldendal Prinsenbos | Museum of Old Techniques Grimbergen | Het MOT

Guldendal Prinsenbos | Museum of Old Techniques Grimbergen | Het MOT | Best Kids museums in belgium

Guldendal Prinsenbos | Museum of Old Techniques Grimbergen | Het MOT | Best Kids museums in belgium

Liermolen Grimbergen Watermill | Museum of Old Techniques Grimbergen | Het MOT

Liermolen Grimbergen Watermill | Museum of Old Techniques Grimbergen | Het MOT

Liermolen Grimbergen Watermill | Museum of Old Techniques Grimbergen | Het MOT

SAINT SERVATIUS BASILICA & GRIMBERGEN ABBEY
My last stop for the day was Saint Servatius Basilica. My first feeling as soon as saw it was that it is humongous, I mean, it's way too large for a town the size of Grimbergen! Grimbergen is not too big, it has about 25-30 streets in the heart of the town and the abbey of its size is shocking, surprising and reminded me of the size of Sint-Sulpitiuskerk in Diest! 
The history of Grimbergen Abbey dates back to the 12th C CE, however, this Basilica was built in the mid-17th C CE and was entirely built in a Baroque style out of sandstone. The abbey belongs to the Norbertine order of monks and has several relics of various monks and others.
Carillon at Saint Servatius Basilica: The tower is 58m tall (for reference, Koekelberg Basilica is 89m). The original carillon of Grimbergen Basilica was made in early 18th C CE; the current one was made in 1964 with 48 bells. However, it is currently not possible for visitors/devotees to climb the carillon tower. 
Paintings in Saint Servatius Basilica: The main altar was made in 1701 by Frans Langhemans. In the center is the painting of the Assumption of Mary and to the left and right of it are the sculptures of Peter and Paul. There are 4 more paintings at the choir, all painted by Richard van Orley that were commissioned by Abbot Augustinus van Eeckhout in early 18th C CE. The oldest painting in the church is of Saint Norbert.
Saint Norbert's Altar: To the right of the main altar is Saint Norbert's altar. There are 3 paintings here and the sculpture of Saint Norbert at the altar. On top of the sculpture is the oldest painting in Saint Servatius Basilica, Grimbergen of the Virgin Mary giving a white cloth to Saint Norbert. To the left and right are 2 large paintings, both of which are copies of Rubens; one attributed to Jan Erasmus Quellin and another to Gaspar de Crayer. 
Saint Servatius Altar: In the right transept is the altar of Saint Servatius. It's quite marvelous with the contrast in colors and textures with wood, gilded wood, and marble! This was made by Hendrik-Frans Verbruggen in the late 17th C CE. The sculpture of Saint Servatius is depicted as a bishop, wearing a miter, holding a crosier (staff), and slaying a dragon! Below are 4 medallions depicting 4 Church Fathers - Pope Gregory I, Saint Ambrosius, Saint Aurelius Augustinus, and Saint Jerome.
Woodworks in Saint Servatius Basilica: One thing that really captured my attention was the confession stands, all wooden sculptures, made by Willem Kerrickx before 1718. Another impressive wooden work here is of the Baroque-styled choir stalls. The carvings on it were quite detailed with cherubs and other little heads, birds and animals, medallions, masks, and leaf motives. Yet another stunning piece of woodwork here is the pulpit Henry-Frans Verbruggen in 17th-18th C CE. Atop it is On top is a statue of Saint Servatius, patron saint of the church. 

Where is Saint Servatius Basilica? Sint-Servaasbasiliek
How to reach Saint Servatius BasilicaSint-Servaasbasiliek is 800m (10 mins walk) from Het MOT (Museum of Original Techniques). The nearest bus stops to the Basilica are Grimbergen Dorp (on DeLijn Bus Routes 230, 231, 232) and Grimbergen Hoge Steenweg (DeLijn Bus Route 821)
Saint Servatius Basilica Tickets: Free
Saint Servatius Basilica timings: 7:00AM to 7:00PM all days

Grimbergen Abbey | Saint Servatius Basilica | Sint-Servaasbasiliek | Abdij van Grimbergen

Grimbergen Abbey | Saint Servatius Basilica | Sint-Servaasbasiliek | Abdij van Grimbergen
Saint Norbert's altar

Grimbergen Abbey | Saint Servatius Basilica | Sint-Servaasbasiliek | Abdij van Grimbergen
Pulpit and Saint Servatius Altar

Grimbergen Abbey | Saint Servatius Basilica | Sint-Servaasbasiliek | Abdij van Grimbergen

Grimbergen Abbey | Saint Servatius Basilica | Sint-Servaasbasiliek | Abdij van Grimbergen
Confession stands

TASTE GRIMBERGEN BEER AT GRIMBERGEN MICROBREWERY
What's a trip to Grimbergen without tasting Grimbergen beer! Since the Abbey itself is not open to the public (since is a functional religious institution still), there's a separate place to learn all about Grimbergen beer.
Self-guided tour of Grimbergen Experience: The self-guided tour takes you through the history, raw materials, and the process of making Grimbergen Abbey beer and ends with 2 or 3 tastings! You're given a tag (with language options, incl. English) which you tap on interactive displays. Apart from the digital displays, there are also historical products and instruments used to manufacture beer. Then the tour moves on to the currently used brewery through the beer fermentation tanks. After a quick visit to the various types of beer manufactured here, it's time for tasting! 
Why is a Phoenix a symbol of Grimbergen beer? Grimbergen beer was first brewed in 12th C CE when the abbey was founded. But the abbey was destroyed time & again, thanks to fire, revolts, wars, & more. However, every time, the beer's recipe survived. After the French Revolution, beer was not brewed here for more than 200 years, but then, in 2021, it began again. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Grimbergen beer is still surviving 10 centuries!!!

Where is Grimbergen Experience? Microbrouwerij Grimbergen
How to reach Grimbergen Experience2 mins walk from Grimbergen Abbey Saint Servatius Basilica. Just beside MIRA Observatory.
Grimbergen Experience tickets: €12 onwards (€16 for 2 tastings; €18 for 3 tastings).
Grimbergen Experience timings: 12:00 noon to 7:00PM all days. Last entry at 06:00PM

MIRA OBSERVATORY
While the Brussels planetarium is a good place to see astronomy movies on the 360° dome, there is no observatory here, meaning, there is no telescope here with which you can watch the stars or astronomical events. The Royal Observatory in Brussels (near Sint Job) is an official, government institution and is not open to the public. The nearest observatory from Brussels open to the public is Mira Observatory in Grimbergen. While there are displays inside like a science museum/planetarium with a local map of the night sky, all about the planets & the weather, etc, the most interesting feature is the telescopes mounted in the domes. It is possible to visit the observatory both in the morning and at night. During the daytime visit, it is possible to observe the sun, and probably the moon too, if it is out as well. At night, it is possible to observe the Milkyway, stars, planets, comets if any, & more. However, the nighttime openings happen only twice a month. The nighttime openings are part of an activity called AstroClub. During the nighttime openings, apart from the access to the observatory, there's also a lecture or a multimedia show which could be attended, however, that's in Flemish (Dutch).

Where is Mira Observatory? Volkssterrenwacht Mira
How to reach Mira Observatory? 2 mins walk from Grimbergen Abbey Saint Servatius Basilica
Mira Observatory tickets: €3 (for just the permanent exhibition); €6 (incl. Observatory). Cash only!
Mira Observatory timings: Wed & Sun only 2PM to 6PM; Astroclub - every 2nd & last Friday 7PM to 11PM (except during public holidays when it is closed).

Grimbergen beer | Abbey Beers in Belgium
Pic Credit: Neulich im Roxy Kino, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
 
Grimbergen beer | Abbey Beers in Belgium
Pic Credit: AlfvanBeem, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Prinsenbos Guldendal Grimbergen | Museum of Old Techniques Grimbergen | Het MOT
Het MOT | Museum of Old Techniques Guldendal

Tommenmolen Watermill | Museum of Old Techniques Grimbergen | Het MOT
Tommenmolen

Tommenmolen Watermill | Museum of Old Techniques Grimbergen | Het MOT
Tommenmolen

HOW TO REACH GRIMBERGEN
 
Grimbergen is an easy half-day trip from Brussels by bus! Located in the Flemish Brabant (Vlaams Brabant) region, to the north of Brussels, it is easy to take a DeLijn bus to Grimbergen. Either take a train to Vilvoorde and take the DeLijn Bus Route 533 or 821 (or) take a metro to Bockstael or tram to DeWand and take the DeLijn Bus Routes 230, 231, or 232. It takes 30 minutes from Bockstael Metro station and lesser from De Wand Tram stop to reach Grimbergen.
 
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT GRIMBERGEN?
 
The best thing about visiting Grimbergen from Brussels is that it hardly takes about 30 mins and you can visit Grimbergen multiple times without much planning. Grimbergen Castle, MOT museum at Guldendal, Grimbergen beer experience, and Grimbergen Abbey are open all year long, so it is good to go any day! However, I'd suggest April to September to visit Grimbergen, esp. if you're going with kids, for 3 reasons - 1. In Oct-Mar, MOT Guldendal is open only on weekdays; 2. In Dec-Mar, Liermolen and Tommenmolen of MOT are closed; 3. Prisenbos is dry and not picturesque in winter! 


GRIMBERGEN ITINERARIES

Below are 5 versions of a Grimbergen itinerary. Why have I mentioned 'with kids' in 3? Well, MOT Grimbergen is a very hands-on museum, so I've set aside 2 hours for MOT Grimbergen in all these versions, which is a minimum (1.5 hours for the museum itself & 30 mins for the castle). If you're with kids, you could spend more than 2 hours at MOT Guldendal and Liermolen if you have the time! If you're without kids, you might spend just 45 mins there for both museum & castle together, and then use the time to visit Grimbergen Experience.

GRIMBERGEN HALF-DAY ITINERARY WITH KIDS
Walking through the woods of Prinsenbos, castle, and MOT Guldendal museum. 
Maybe a quick visit to Liermolen if time permits.

GRIMBERGEN ONE-DAY ITINERARY WITH KIDS - WAKE UP EARLY!
8:00AM - Walking through the woods of Prinsenbos
10:00AM - MOT Guldendal & Prisenbos Castle
12:00 noon - Saint Servatius Basilica
12:45PM - Tommenmolen (+ Lunch)
2:15PM - Liermolen
3:00PM - MIRA observatory permanent collection
4:00PM - Return

GRIMBERGEN ONE-DAY ITINERARY WITHOUT KIDS - WAKE UP EARLY!
Same as above but,
...
10:00AM - MOT Guldendal & Prisenbos Castle
11:00AM - Saint Servatius Basilica
12:00 noon - Grimbergen Experience
...

GRIMBERGEN ONE-DAY ITINERARY WITH KIDS - SLEEP LATE!
1:30 PM - Tommenmolen
2:15PM - Liermolen
3:00PM - MOT Guldendal & Prisenbos Castle
5:00PM - Walking through the woods of Prinsenbos
6:00PM - Saint Servatius Basilica
6:30PM - Dinner at one of the restaurants near the Basilica
8:00PM - MIRA observatory
10:00/11:00 PM - Return

GRIMBERGEN ONE-DAY ITINERARY WITHOUT KIDS - SLEEP LATE!
Same as above but,
...
2:15PM - Liermolen
3:00PM - Grimbergen Experience
4:00PM - MOT Guldendal & Prisenbos Castle
...


Things to do in Grimbergen Pinterest Things to do in Grimbergen Pinterest

Things to do in Grimbergen Pinterest Things to do in Grimbergen Pinterest


Bhushavali

An ardent traveler by passion. Being an ex - Art History Teacher, my area of interest especially lies in Nature and Heritage. Visited 85 UNESCO World Heritage sites as of June 2022. I've been listed among the Top 7 Women Travel Bloggers of India, Top 50 in UK. I have been interviewed in a couple of TV Shows, Radio Channels and Events as well. Read more about me and read the testimonials of different brands

9 comments:

  1. Grimbergen looks like such a gorgeous area to visit! There is so much natural beauty. And I'm always a fan of hands-on museums as it's a great way to get kids to remember what they're learning as they interact. And I didn't realize that abbey beer was a term, although it makes total sense. That would definitely make the side trip worth it for my husband. Ha!

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  2. Hubby would definitely to a half day trip from Brussels to try Grimbergen beer. But I might wander the town and explore all the lovely sights. I can see why you think we could spend more than just a half day. Castles with moats always churn up romantic thoughts even though the moats were designed as protection. And while the Museum of Old Techniques may be targeted at kids, the engineer in me would be fascinated. Great to have some different suggestions for a tour day.

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  3. I'm not a beer connoisseur, but I like to try beer occasionally, especially on a warm summer day. Grimbergen beer seems exciting, primarily because of its history and the fact that it was brewed by monks in an abbey. I would love to take a day trip from Brussels to enjoy the taste of this beer and visit Castle and Grimbergen Abbey. I would like to see this tiny castle Prinsenbos in a wooded area. It's also great to know that Mira Observatory in Grimbergen is open to the public and that nighttime openings are also twice a month.

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  4. Imagine walking into a castle in the middle of the woods---that's like living a fairytale. Would certainly like to try the beer made by monks. I would also love to see the models of the windmills and the watermills. The basilica has stunning interiors.

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  5. Grimbergen looks like an amazing place to visit as this place has so much to see and explore. Being a beer person, I would definately try Grimbergen beer and also would love to know more about it's history and how it brewed by the monks in abbey. Walking through the woods of Prinsenbos sounds exciting and I will surely try that experience.

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  6. Thank you for such detailed guide for Grimberg. The Mot museums Guldendal, Liermolen and Tommenmolen is something I'm very excited to go to. As a kid, I've always had a keen interest in doing a hands-on workshop. Also, it would be great to learn about the traditional mills process works! and last but not the least, the beer tasting. I hope they allow takeaways as well haha!

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  7. I had no idea that Grimbergen was so close to Brussels. I love the castle in the woods with the overgrown plants climbing the ruins. I will definitely head here when I nect head back and to the Mira Observatory

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  8. I would love to be surprised by the sight of Prinsenkasteel while cycling in the forest. That would be such a magnificent find and I can imagine what a grand place this was in its day. The whole area of Grimbergen looks very picturesque and with still lots of nature to enjoy. Thanks for the introduction to this place.

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  9. It is nice to know that have a kid-friendly experience at MOT. I am usually hesitant to bring my kids to museums since they might just be bored but these hands on activities definitely makes it worth visiting. The tickets are all reasonable given its for all the 3 museums already.

    The Mira Observatory sounds equally interesting too. Will make sure to include that in our itinerary.

    ReplyDelete

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