🥃 Balegemse jenever
EU geographical indication for genever from the village of Balegem (Oosterzele, East Flanders): juniper spirit from 30% ABV, made by the farm distillery Van Damme.
Balegemse jenever is a protected EU name for genever from the village of Balegem in the municipality of Oosterzele, East Flanders, Belgium. It belongs to the juniper spirits (category 19): under EU law it is spirit of agricultural origin with juniper, at least 30% ABV. The name is recognised both by the Flemish Community and by the European Union.
The distillery. Balegemse jenever is made by the farm distillery Van Damme. According to the Flemish government's decision on its protection, of 313 farm distilleries registered in 1864 it is the only one where a farmer still distils genever from his own grain according to the 1864 recipe. The spent grain is fed to livestock, and the manure fertilises the fields.
Equipment. The main parts of the installation are dated 1898–1931: a mill from 1901, a steam engine from 1898 by the Ghent firm La Phoenix, a Lancashire boiler and a still from 1931. The distillery, together with the farmstead and cobbled yard, is protected as a monument; according to VRT, the original installation has been protected for almost 15 years.
Today. The business is run by the seventh generation — the sisters Ilse, Sophie and Eva. In 2026 the centre «Van korrel tot borrel» («From grain to glass») opened in a former cowshed, where visitors can see how genever is distilled.
Why this matters to you. The name «Balegemse jenever» guarantees the place of origin and the grain base, and the minimum strength for juniper spirits is 30% ABV, so check the figure on the label. Genever is not gin: the rules and the taste differ. WHO reminds us: there is no safe amount of alcohol.
Facts
| EU category | 19 — juniper spirits; geographical indication «Balegemse jenever» (Belgium) |
|---|---|
| Alcohol (% vol.) | from 30% ABV |
| Raw material | grain grown by the distillery itself, juniper |
| Distillation method | still of 1931 and column of 1898 (Van Damme distillery) |
| Year founded | Van Damme distillery — 1864 (according to the protection decision) |
| Legal basis | Regulation (EC) No 110/2008, Annex III; Regulation (EU) 2019/787 |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Balegemse jenever → kind of → 🍸 Gin and juniper spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Next step
- 🍷 Alcoholic fermentation
- Made from
- 🥃 Rye and corn in whisky
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Genever, 🍸 Gin and juniper spirits
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🍸 Gin, 🥃 Ostfriesischer Korngenever (East Frisian grain genever), 🥃 Genièvre aux fruits / Vruchtenjenever, 🥃 Genièvre de grains / Graanjenever, 🥃 Genièvre Flandre Artois, 🥃 Hasseltse jenever
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Balegemse jenever is simply Belgian gin?
No. It is a genever with its own protected name; juniper spirits in the EU have at least 30% ABV, while gin is a separate category from 37.5% ABV.
Where is Balegemse jenever made?
In Balegem, municipality of Oosterzele, province of East Flanders; it is distilled by the farm distillery Van Damme.
What is Balegemse jenever made from?
From spirit distilled from grain the distillery grows itself, flavoured with juniper; the protection decision refers to a recipe from 1864.
Why is the Van Damme distillery a monument?
It is the only one of the 313 farm distilleries of 1864 where a farmer still distils genever from his own grain; a steam engine from 1898 and a still from 1931 have survived.
What is the minimum strength?
For juniper spirits the EU requires 30% ABV (Regulation (EU) 2019/787, Annex I, category 19).
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🌍 Western Europe — France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
- 🍷 Alcoholic fermentation — Yeast eats the sugar in the must and releases alcohol and carbon dioxide.
- 🥃 Rye and corn in whisky — Grain in the name of American whiskey: bourbon is at least 51% corn, rye at least 51% rye, corn whiskey at least 80% corn.
- 🍸 Gin — A spirit flavoured with juniper berries: in the EU at least 37.5% vol., juniper must dominate, and “dry” means up to 0.1 g/l of sugar.
Similar
🥃 Ostfriesischer Korngenever (East Frisian grain genever) · 🥃 Genièvre de grains / Graanjenever · 🥃 Genièvre Flandre Artois · 🥃 Hasseltse jenever · 🥃 Genièvre aux fruits / Vruchtenjenever · 🥃 Genever
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Regulation (EC) No 110/2008, Annex III (consolidated 31.01.2020): cat. 19 juniper-flavoured spirit drinks — "Balegemse jenever", Belgium (Balegem)
- Flemish Government, ministerial decree on the protection of the Van Damme distillery in Oosterzele (Balegem) as a monument (draft 22.05.2009; 313 agricultural distilleries in 1864; steam engine La Phoenix 1898; Balegemse jenever recognised as a geographical name)
- VRT NWS (10.03.2026): Stokerij Van Damme in Balegem opent belevingscentrum 'Van korrel tot borrel'
- VRT NWS (11.03.2026): Van Damme distillery opens visitor centre dedicated to Balegemse
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks, Annex I as adopted: cat. 1 rum (min. 37.5 %, no flavouring, sweetening up to 20 g/l), cat. 19 juniper-flavoured spirit drinks (min. 30 %), cat. 25 aniseed-flavoured spirit drink (min. 15 %), cat. 26 pastis, cat. 28 anis
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)