Next Tuesday 21st July is Belgian National Day 2020 so a day to celebrate all things Belgian: drink some Belgian beer, eat moules frites and indulge in some Belgian chocolate or Belgian waffles. We tell you where to find them. With COVID-19 there are fewer events around Australia than usual, but you can find details of the events below. Happy Belgian National Day!
Why is Belgian National Day celebrated on 21st July?
In 1830, the southern provinces of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands rebelled against Dutch rule, forcing the Dutch out of the region and securing Belgium’s independence.
Indpendence was approved by the European powers at the London Conference of 1830-31.
On 21 July 1831, the temporary regent Erasme Louis Surlet de Chokier officially relinquished his position and Leopold of Saxe-Cobourg-Gotha, a German nobleman, was crowned the first King of Belgium.
So all that to say that Belgian National Day commemorates the formal establishment of the independent kingdom and the crowning of Leopold I.
Where to celebrate Belgian National Day 2020? AND where to get supplies to celebrate at home
Online and in-store on the Gold Coast
Belgian Delights conches its own chocolate. They make their own chocolate to a family recipe all done by Belgian born and trained chocolatiers. Their cocoa content is also higher compared to most brands, their milk chocolate is 37% and their dark is 63%. Order some Belgian chocolate to celebrate Belgian National Day 2020.
You can also visit their factory outlet on the Gold Coast between 8am and 4pm on weekdays.
Online and in-store in Sydney
Beer Cartel
https://www.beercartel.com.au/
Beer cartel is a Sydney based bricks and mortar, but also an online store sending Australia wide, specialising in, you guessed it, beer!
They have an impressive range of 331 Belgian beers in 27 styles. Prices range from $5 to $180 for the Chimay Grande Reserve 3000ml. Drink a beer or two for Belgian National Day 2020.
Open from 7am – 4pm, you can get your Belgian chocolate fix from Choc et Moi, who make all of their chocolates on site.
Treat yourself to a warming hot Belgian chocolate with some truffles.
ONLINE
From being dreamt up by Pierre Draps in 1926, GODIVA rose to become the official chocolatier to the Belgian Royal Court, gaining a reputation for mastery across the globe – and putting Belgium firmly on the tastemaker’s map in the process.
Their online store contains a delicious range of Belgian chocolates with which you can celebrate Belgian National Day 2020
The Nina’s team bring magic to Nina’s Chocolates everyday. They hand make and hand pack all of their chocolates using premium Belgian chocolate. They make over 120 different varieties.
Order yourself some chocolates online to celebrate Belgian National Day 2020.
Anvers confectionery was established as a cottage industry in November 1989, by Igor Van Gerwen, who came to Australia from Belgium.
To guarantee the quality of his products, Igor not only has to painstakingly train his staff in the art of manipulating chocolate, but also to continuously source the finest ingredients.
Order yourself some Belgian chocolate from Tasmania including fudge, truffles, chocolate coated orange pieces and chocolate blocks.
ADELAIDE
Belgian Beer Café Ostende – Saturday 18 July 2020
https://www.facebook.com/events/265455198078354/
Food, tunes, games and, of course, beer – The Belgian Beer Café Ostende is celebrating Belgian National Day 2020 a few days early, this Saturday!
You can expect:
🍻 10% OFF ALL Belgian Bottled Beers
🍻 Special ‘Belgian Bites’ Food Menu
🍻 Belgian Party Games
STELLA BEER POURING CHALLENGE
Think you got what it takes to beat the Belgians?
They challenge to you to pour 5 perfect pints of Stella, honouring the traditional ‘nine step Stella Artois pour!’
Find out what the Stella Artois 9 step pour is:
The best pourer keeps all their beers AND takes home a $200 bar tab!
*Max. 5 contestants. Sign up at the bar BEFORE 8.30pm for a 9pm pour-off.
MUSSEL EATING COMPETITION
The annual Mussel eating competition!
How long does it take to down 1kg of steaming hot mussels? Find out yourself (against 3 other competitors) for Belgian National Day 2020!
9 eaters, 4 heats. Winner claims a $100 Belgian hamper 🎉
2pm, Saturday 18th.
Sign up for the challenge before 1pm at the bar!
They will have some different games as well, such as “pin the tail on the delirium elephant” and best of all, a few hampers full of Belgian beer and goodies to win from the competitions!
BENDIGO, VICTORIA
Indulge Fine Belgian Chocolate
Indulge Fine Belgian Chocolate offers a multi-sensory retail and café experience in Bendigo Bank Central, at the heart of the shopping, arts and heritage area of Bendigo, Central Victoria.
You can also order their chocolates online via the website but only for delivery within a 10km radius of Bendigo.
BRISBANE
Saccharomyces Beer Café and Madocke Beer Brewing Company
https://www.facebook.com/events/1757990414342754/
To showcase the unique Belgian’s food and beer culture Saccharomyces Beer Café and Madocke Beer Brewing Company have thrown together an amazing three course feast paired with three beers for your culinary pleasure! Unfortunately with COVID-19 restrictions it was only limited to 20 lucky people and has now sold out.
But…
They will still have some locally brewed Madocke Witbier and Rodenbach’s Grand Cru on tap for the weekend. Plus, anyone that misses out on drinking from the 6litre Mathusalem of St. Bernardus ABT 12 strong ale can purchase a 330mL bottle of it to take home for $12.
MELBOURNE
Belgian Beer Cafe Melbourne
The lockdown in Melbourne means that you can’t dine in or drink on site but they can do take-away food and drinks to help you celebrate Belgian National Day 2020.
They will have some 1.89ltr ‘growlers’ that people can buy and then fill with beer out of the tap. Their Belgian tap beers include:
🍺Hoegaarden
🍺Leffe Blonde
🍺Leffe Brune
🍺Belle Vue Kriek
They also have plenty of Belgian bottled beers, like La Chouffe, Duvel, Chimay, etc. AND some extremely rare bottles from Cantillon, that rarely make it to Australia.
The food available for take away is weiner schnitzels, weisswurst/bratwurst and stoemp, and of course waffles.
The Belgian Club of Victoria has postponed its 2020 Belgian National Day celebrations. It is looking at doing a Belgian Day in December, along the lines of Christmas in July events in Australia. Stay tuned.
https://www.facebook.com/BelgianClubVictoriaInc/
The Castle Hotel
Unfortunately, on 7 July, The Castle has closed again while Melbourne is in lockdown.
However they will be doing a “Manneken pils” -virtual Belgian National day celebration via zoom link in collaboration with the Victorian Belgian club ( I will send the link later today) – 21st of July time to be advised
The Quarry Hotel
The Sister hotel to The Castle Hotel has the bottle shop open and is running a super promo for the National day!
SPECIAL OFFER
All Belgian beers $8 each
1.1ltr growlers $35 ( Triple Karmeliet, Kwak, Delirium on tap including growler)
Available beers:
🍺Chimay rouge
🍺Chimay blue
🍺Chimay white
🍺Grisette Blanche ( organic beer)
🍺Rochefort 8
🍺Liefmans Goudenband
🍺Liefmans Kriek
🍺Floris kriek
🍺Floris passionfruit
🍺Hoegaarden
🍺Duvel
🍺La Chouffe
🍺Delirium (bottle /tap)
🍺Kwak( tap)
🍺Triple Karmeliet (tap)
Promo is from Friday 17/7 till Friday 24/4.
You can pre-order not to miss out, pick up from the bottle shop at 101 Lygon Street, East Brunswick
Opening hours- Tuesday -Sunday 3pm-8pm
Order to be sent to Sarah 0407115594
Delivery available min order is $50 and additional $5 for a radius of 6km from East Brunswick
NOTE: Postage outside Melbourne is possible. Prices will need to be quoted on an individual basis.
PERTH
Belgian Club of WA (BCWA) – Saturday 25 July
https://www.facebook.com/events/717917989022574/
Members of the BCWA are invited to join the yearly Belgian lunch celebration. The lunch will be held at Mt Pleasant Bowling Club, 40 Bedford Road, Ardross, on Saturday the 25th of July, from 12.00pm till 16.00pm.
The menu will include:
- Belgian style nibbles for starters
- Belgian Beef Stew and fries for main
- Belgian Style Dessert Buffet to finish off with
The food will be served buffet style. Beers and other beverages can be purchased at the bar.
The price per adult will be $40 and per child $14 (up to 14 years). Kids under 4 are free of charge. Included in the price is the use of the venue and all meals.
Please RSVP to Vicky by sending an email to [email protected] by the 22th of July – so that they can cater you in and make sure they have enough food to go around.
SYDNEY
Treat yourself to a hot chocolate from Belgian chocolate cafe, Guylian at 5 locations across Sydney.
Get a taste of Belgium with bottomless mussel pots at Loluk in Sydney for $25 on Thursdays.
Ils vous proposent les Moules Frites à volonté les jeudis.
How are you celebrating Belgian National Day 2020?
