Museumbrouwerij de Roos

Museumbrouwerij de Roos is a historic brewery and museum located at Sint Sebastiaanstraat 4 in Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands. The brewery dates from the second half of the 19th century, though the building it occupies is older and likely served as a stable before being extensively converted for brewing, probably in 1877. The adjacent house is a traditional Kempisch verdiepinghuis, possibly built in the first half of the 18th century, and may have been used for small-scale brewing and as an inn. Brewing in Hilvarenbeek has deep roots: from the early 17th century, beer was brewed in many places in the village. After a village fire in 1694, three breweries were lost but eight remained, alongside 32 innkeepers. By 1715 there were six brewers, by 1792 three (two of which were idle), by 1819 two, and by 1830 only one. In the 19th century, two new breweries were founded, including De Roos and De Arend (1882), the latter destroyed by fire in 1911. In 1915, Henricus Franciscus de Leijer, from an old Boxtel brewing family, bought brewery De Roos. He produced a low-alcohol beer that could not compete with bottom-fermented pilsner, which required modern cooling equipment that the artisanal operation could not afford. The brewery closed in 1933 and fell into disrepair; its equipment was sealed on 14 November 1933. Brewing continued at De Kroon in Boxtel, owned by the brewer's brother, until 1964, with some beer bottled in Hilvarenbeek under the name De Roos. From 1996 to 2001, volunteers restored the brewery and its inventory. A dilapidated part was demolished and replaced with a new annex housing a small modern brewing installation. Volunteers brew beer again, and failed batches are distilled into liqueur. The 19th-century industrial brewing equipment is largely in its authentic state and is unique in the Netherlands; only the Netherlands Open Air Museum in Arnhem has a comparable inventory. The museum is open on weekend afternoons and on some weekday afternoons during holiday months.

Brewing in Hilvarenbeek dates back to the early 17th century, when beer was brewed in many locations throughout the village. A village fire in 1694 destroyed three breweries, but eight remained, along with 32 innkeepers. By 1715, six brewers were active; by 1792, three remained (two idle); by 1819, two; and by 1830, only one. Despite this decline, two new breweries were founded in the 19th century: De Roos and De Arend (1882), the latter destroyed by fire in 1911. The De Roos brewery itself dates from the second half of the 19th century. Its building is older, probably a former stable, extensively converted for brewing, likely in 1877. The adjacent house, a Kempisch verdiepinghuis, was probably built in the first half of the 18th century and may have housed artisanal brewing and an inn. In 1915, Henricus Franciscus de Leijer, from an old Boxtel brewing family, purchased De Roos. He produced a low-alcohol beer that could not compete with bottom-fermented pilsner, which required modern cooling equipment beyond the means of the artisanal brewery. The brewery closed in 1933 and fell into disrepair; its equipment was sealed on 14 November 1933. Brewing continued at De Kroon in Boxtel, owned by the brewer's brother, until 1964. Some of that beer was bottled in Hilvarenbeek under the De Roos name, though it originated in Boxtel. After 1964, the Boxtel operation continued as drinks merchant De Leijer. From 1996 to 2001, volunteers restored the brewery and its inventory. A dilapidated section was demolished and replaced with a new annex containing a small modern brewing installation. Volunteers resumed brewing, and failed batches are distilled into liqueur. The 19th-century industrial brewing equipment remains largely authentic and is unique in the Netherlands; only the Netherlands Open Air Museum in Arnhem has a similar inventory. The museum is open on weekend afternoons and on some weekday afternoons during holiday months.

• 2001

  Restoration completed; new annex with modern brewing installation added.

• 1996

  Volunteers begin restoring the brewery and inventory.

• 1964

  Brewing at De Kroon in Boxtel ceases; De Roos name used for bottling until then.

• 1933

  Brewery closed; equipment sealed on 14 November.

• 1915

  Henricus Franciscus de Leijer buys brewery De Roos.

• 1911

  Brewery De Arend destroyed by fire.

• 1882

  Brewery De Arend founded in Hilvarenbeek.

• 1877

  Building likely converted for brewing use.

• 1830

  Only one brewer remains.

• 1819

  Two brewers remain.

• 1792

  Three brewers remain, two of which are idle.

• 1715

  Six brewers active in Hilvarenbeek.

• 1694

  Village fire in Hilvarenbeek destroys three breweries; eight remain.

Historic museum brewery preserving authentic 19th-century brewing equipment and traditions.

• Artisanal beer

  Beer brewed by volunteers using a small modern installation.

• Liqueur

  Produced by distilling failed beer batches.

1. 1Museumbrouwerij de Roos - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Museumbrouwerij De Roos - Wikipedia (Dutch)nl.wikipedia.org
3. 3Official websitemuseumbrouwerij.nl