Brasserie Martens

Brasserie Martens (Dutch: Brouwerij Martens) is a Belgian industrial and family-owned brewery based in Bocholt, in the province of Limburg. Founded in 1758, it is one of the oldest continuously operating breweries in Belgium and has remained under family ownership for generations. The company describes itself as "brewing the future since 1758" and positions itself as a pioneer in brewing, claiming the world's first double dry-hopped beer in 1867. With an annual production of around 3 million hectolitres, Martens is the second-largest brewery in Belgium after AB InBev. It exports approximately 85% of its production to about 100 countries. A significant part of its business consists of producing private-label beers for supermarket chains such as Aldi (Karlskrone, Karlsquell), Makro, Carrefour and Cora in Belgium, and for Mercadona in Spain (Steinburg Clásica). In addition to contract brewing, Martens markets its own brand families, including the Martens range of low-fermentation beers, the Sezoens range of top-fermented beers, the Kristoffel abbey-style beers, and the historic 1758 brand. The brewery is known for its sustainable brewing practices, aiming to use less than 1.2 litres of water per litre of beer by 2024. It has been nominated for the Global Water Awards in 2024. The company remains family-owned and operated, with the eighth generation involved in leadership. Its headquarters and brewery museum are located in Bocholt, where the original tavern De Star once stood.

The history of Brasserie Martens begins in 1758 in a local tavern called De Star in the centre of Bocholt, where the current brewery museum is housed. The brewery was founded by Adriaan Gerkens. Over the centuries, the family business passed from father to son or from father to son-in-law, and today the eighth generation is involved. After Adriaan Gerkens, the brewery was successively led by Jean Schrijvers, Theodorus Martens, P. Frans Martens, Jean Martens, Frans Martens, Jean and Gérard Martens, and then Fons and Jan Martens. In 1867, the brewery experimented and brewed what it claims was the world's first double dry-hopped beer, a recipe that has remained unchanged ever since under the name Sezoens. After World War I, a major crisis swept through Belgian breweries; Martens survived by exporting its products by rail and sea to more prosperous regions. In 1979, Jean Martens opened the brewery museum. Under the leadership of Gerard and Jean Martens, the seventh generation, the first steps were taken towards internationalising Brewery Martens. Germany became a significant market, and Jean Martens founded the Museum of Friendship. From 1983 onwards, Fons Martens steadily continued the export mentality, and the beers became available in as many as 100 countries. In the 2000s, Jan Martens built the brewery of the future, and together they managed to brew and sell the milestone of 4 million hectolitres. Brewery Martens became the largest family brewery in Belgium. Since 2007, the brewery has increased its brewing capacity. It has also focused on sustainability, aiming to use less than 1.2 litres of water to produce 1 litre of beer by 2024, which it says trounces current best practices worldwide. In 2024, the brewery was nominated for the Global Water Awards. Today, Martens is the second-largest brewery in Belgium after AB InBev, producing around 3 million hectolitres annually and exporting about 85% of its production to around 100 countries.

• 2024

  Nominated for the Global Water Awards.

• 2007

  Brewery increases its brewing capacity.

• 2000

  Jan Martens builds the brewery of the future; production reaches 4 million hectolitres.

• 1983

  Fons Martens continues export expansion; beers reach up to 100 countries.

• 1979

  Jean Martens opens the brewery museum.

• 1867

  Brewed the world's first double dry-hopped beer, later named Sezoens.

• 1758

  Brewery founded by Adriaan Gerkens in the tavern De Star in Bocholt.

Belgian family brewery combining tradition and innovation, focused on sustainable brewing and a diverse brand portfolio for domestic and international markets.

• Martens range

  Refreshing low-fermentation beers brewed with care and sustainability.

• Sezoens range

  Top-fermented beers with fruity, spicy and hoppy flavours.

• Kristoffel range

  Four traditional abbey-style beers named after St Christopher.

• 1758 brand

  Historic recipes since 1867.

• Private-label beers

  Produced for Aldi (Karlskrone, Karlsquell), Makro, Carrefour, Cora, and Mercadona (Steinburg Clásica).

1. 1Martens official websitemartens.be
2. 2Brands | Martensmartens.be
3. 3Our story | Martensmartens.be
4. 4Brasserie Martens - Wikidatawikidata.org
5. 5Brasserie Martens - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org