Stella-Artois beer has a long history! In 1366 already, the brewery "Den Hoorn" (the Horn, in Flemish, still present on the current logo) was already producing this very famous beer.
The repossession of thr company by Sébastien Artois in 1708 is the beginning of a success story.
The brand Stella-Artois is born in 1926 and the beer becomes famous worldwide at the same time.The brewery is based in Leuven, Belgium.
Maybe the brewery has to be modernized due to the increasing demand in beer production?
Anyway, for our Urban Explorer happiness, it was possible to explore this huge beautiful industrial brewery. Extremely well preserved, no theft, no tags, all the machines are still there, sleeping and slowly rusting and waiting for a second life? Profusion of copper and colors!
It seems that this brewery closed down in the middle of the 90's.
But this is for sure a gret original location to explore, with an uncertain fate...
You can get in to a couple buildings , I went today a lot of te factory is indeed demolished! BUT ! You can go into the "secured" buildings that are also nice to see you have a great view on top of the building its awesome From a beginning urban explorer
This place doesn't exist anymore! It's demolished after the summer break of 2015.
Cheers!
De Hoorn won't be demolished at all. They're turning it into a multi-uses space for culture & economy. It's an inspiring and very ambitious project. Here's their website (in Dutch, but with many pictures of the space and how it'll look in the future): www.dehoorn.eu/.
I have been to Leuven about 2 weeks ago. When I entered Leuven it was just swarming with construction workers. Every building of the Stella-Artoi brewery is being demolished..
Whyle I was searching for an entrance to one of the buildings, a guy asked me what I was looking for. He turned out to be the boss of the Stella Artois brewery.. I had a little chat with him and he said that all the old buildings will b demolished ASAP..
I wasn't able to acces any of the buildings.. as construction workers were everywhere.. what a shame for these old wonderfull buildings..
Great place to visit! You have a beautiful view of Leuven at the top. But it's too bad that they blocked the passage to the stairs that lead to the top. I'll go there today and watch what I can do
careful when going there now, they increased security (found out first hand) since more ppl began visiting the place, and since the construction plans went public (those causes are probably related) Seriously worth visiting though, awesome view on top!
I'm still not sure how to enter "De Hoorn" though, unless you bring a ladder (couldn't find one in the near surroundings). Can anyone enlighten me?
The pigeon in that picture doesn't look mummified it looks more cooked to me. I LOVE WHAT YOU DO!
hello, Yes most of the old buildings are still there. I live in a small outskirt of Leuven and I like searching this kind of places. I didn't even know this one! Most of the grounds are under construction right now. (the mayor, tobback, really likes large building projects, but mostly they work out fine) So I do not know how long they will still be there. When you are in town, be sure to check out the carillon-tower of the university-library too. It is not as high as the silo's but it is in the center of the city. And off course, have a sip of the beer! Maybe i'll see you on the city skyline soon! greets,
Maarten
Cinezaster - Thanks for the insider knowledge & might see you on the roof when we get there. we're gonna do the tour, take in the sites, watch a game of football & obviously drink some of the local brews.
Matt, hope you're not planning to raid the place.....not before we get thjere anyway?!
Great beer, and wonderful pics!!
With the price of copper these days all that equipment must be worth a fortune!!!
Both buildings are still standing but they started working on the brewery. I regulary visit the rooftop of the malthouse and the silos build next to the malthouse. If you walk around the high old silo tower to the back you wil find a way inside.
The pictures are dated a while ago, me & 3 friends are planning a Eurotrip to take the modern factory tour in Oct this year, are the old brewery & malthouse still there?!
Can we get in them still?!
Pikeys wet dream!!! Look at all the copper
@ kris: please, take a minute of your time, and read the article, you'll find the answer to your question ;-) Cheers, S.
Fantastic idea, worth to do it at all places, not only for the nostalgic idea behind it, also for the superp photographs. a history of the places would complete the job. I am intersted in history of brewing and all sorts around and therfore I came in the site of Verlipack, becaause since the years 19OO beer was beginning to be bottled... About the site of Artois, where is that site? thanks for your reply.
Where exactly in town is it? The photo of the city from the inside should put it by the canal, over past Silo? How did you get inside?
sehr schöne aufnahmen. perfekte detailfotos. sind einsame spitze
1998-2018 (c) - www.Forbidden-Places.net - Contact
[fr] 
[es]
