Ambition

Seeing the world as our family. Based on that purpose, we brew and malt and let people all over the world enjoy our beers keeping us closely connected to the world around us. For us, that also includes direct involvement in the areas surrounding our breweries and malting plants. One of the ways in which we demonstrate that involvement is by supporting various projects and events in the immediate surroundings each year and, where necessary, initiating them ourselves. We regard these kinds of great initiatives as a prerequisite for responsible growth.

Results 2022

  • Amsterdam
    Sponsoring Bier&cO Amsterdam City Swim
  • Amsterdam

    Sponsoring Bier&cO Amsterdam City Swim

    As a sponsor, Bier&cO contributed to the Amsterdam City Swim with Weihenstephan. Amsterdam City Swim is collaborating with the ALS Netherlands Foundation to find the solution to ALS. With over 2,500 participants, 1,000 spectators and 60 patients with their loved ones, 300 volunteers and 50 partners/sponsors, it was a day to remember. A record amount of EUR 1,142,581.- was raised. 

  • Berkel-Enschot
    Made Blue
  • Berkel-Enschot

    Made Blue

    Through the proceeds from Practise What You Preach and the Magnum, beer brewery De Koningshoeven has already donated more than 3,500,000 litres of clean drinking water since 2021 through Made Blue, an organisation that makes clean drinking water available in developing countries. In addition, Made Blue water is also served in La Trappe’s Tasting Room. Additional donations are realised through sales.

  • Berkel-Enschot
    BuyWorld
  • Berkel-Enschot

    BuyWorld

    From 2020 onwards, La Trappe structurally started using a portion of La Trappe Puur’s proceeds to support BuyWorld. BuyWorld uses this amount to buy up land in the Hietkamp and Smakt areas, to then do nothing at all with it. This restores nature and biodiversity to that area. As a section becomes the property of a large number of owners the principle of undivided metres applies. Thus, a future owner can never buy land out of economic gain. This aligns with the values of La Trappe Trappist and the abbey.

  • Berkel-Enschot
    Serve the City
  • Berkel-Enschot

    Serve the City

    The La Trappe Tasting Room is committed to Serve The City by donating a portion of the proceeds from the tours. In 2022, for the first time, there was an “oliebollen” (tasty deep fried dough balls) sale to increase the donation amount. This donation allows for a great day to be organised for clients with disabilities at Tongerlose Hoef in Tilburg.

  • Berkel-Enschot
    Uganda
  • Berkel-Enschot

    Uganda

    The Isid’or on-trade campaign in the Netherlands resulted in a nice donation to Uganda. Per keg sold, a share goes to the brethren initiatives in Uganda. This included contributing to the development of the secondary school which is now nearing completion.

  • Berkel-Enschot
    Fellow initiatives
  • Berkel-Enschot

    Fellow initiatives

    Several colleagues at La Trappe have committed to various projects. For example, Team Marketing baked cakes with the residents of Zorggroep (care group) de Libel in Nistelrode. In addition, a colleague from the brewery cycled the Vrijthof-Vrijthof cycle challenge to raise money for charity. During the annual outing, colleagues assembled bicycles for Africa through Tools to Work. 

  • Berkel-Enschot
    Donatie UNHCR
  • Berkel-Enschot

    Donatie UNHCR

    In the first half of 2022, the Tasting Room hosted a fundraiser for victims of the war in Ukraine. Guests could make a small donation of 50 cents at checkout. A total of EUR 372.50 was raised. The brewery doubled this amount to EUR 745 and donated it to UN refugee agency UNHCR. The money will allow UNHCR to send trucks with medical equipment to Ukraine.

  • Bodegraven
    Partnership Philadelphia Foundation
  • Bodegraven

    Partnership Philadelphia Foundation

    Since its establishment in 2014, brewery De Molen has partnered with the Philadelphia Foundation, a care facility for people with intellectual disabilities. Philadelphia has its own workshop at the brewery, where a total of 25 participants help the brewery with a variety of tasks. The partnership between Philadelphia and De Molen expanded in 2022. In marketing, the faces of Philadelphia are the faces on the beer specials of De Molen. In addition, Philadelphia participants are developing POS items for the on-trade sector, such as tap handles and tasting boards, in the LAB, Philadelphia’s workshop.

  • Debre Birhan
    Own fire brigade
  • Debre Birhan

    Own fire brigade

    At our brewery in Ethiopia, we have our own fire brigade, which monitors the safety of our staff, the plant and the surrounding area. In addition, the brigade is involved locally, supporting the town of Debre Birhan, about five kilometres from the brewery. The city also has its own fire brigade, but Habesha’s fire brigade has better equipment and training. On average, the brigade helps put out about four fires a year.

  • Debre Birhan
    Brewers grains for livestock
  • Debre Birhan

    Brewers grains for livestock

    Brewery Habesha distributes its brewers grains among eight so-called unions, farmer communities in the brewery’s vicinity. Each union is commanded by someone separated from the labour market. The head of the union has two tasks; dividing the brewers grains amongst the affiliated farmers and making part of the grains available to trade. In this way the union can do more than just feed livestock, they also generate income. In addition to a sustainable aspect, this project also has a social character. People in the area are very happy with the brewers grains and this results in a connection with the brewery. Brewery Habesha evaluates the division of the brewers grains a couple of times a year, in collaboration with the unions.

  • Haarlem
    Uiltje Brewing Company supports Movember
  • Haarlem

    Uiltje Brewing Company supports Movember

    In November 2022, Uiltje Brewing Company paid special attention to Movember. Movember aims to make a difference in the areas of mental health, suicide prevention and prostate and testicular cancer in men. Each year, Movember calls on men to grow a moustache in November, thus starting the conversation about men’s health. The goal of Movember is to reduce the number of men who die too young. Through a social campaign, Uiltje called on beer lovers to donate to Movember.

  • Lieshout
    Bee colonies on brewery grounds
  • Lieshout

    Bee colonies on brewery grounds

    Kees van Kollenburg, former Bavaria employee and beekeeper, moved five of his bee colonies to our brewery grounds in Lieshout in 2022. Not only does this give the bees the peace, space and nature they deserve, it also benefits biodiversity on and around our site. While searching for nectar and pollen, bees fertilise many flowers of various plant species. In turn, the plants and their fruits provide a food source for other animals around our brewery. This makes it a win-win situation. 

  • Lieshout
    Soft drinks for Ukrainian refugees
  • Lieshout

    Soft drinks for Ukrainian refugees

    French fry specialists Franky and Coen from Helmond travelled to the Polish border, taking their mobile chip shop along, to hearten fugitives from Ukraine. They offered the refugees French fries with snacks and soft drinks that we supplied. Twenty pallets of soft drinks that we normally distribute in the Netherlands were loaded and delivered to the Poland-Ukraine border in March 2022. This enabled Franky and Coen to offer the many people who stopped by a bag of fries and a snack. 

    Some of our soft drinks were also made available at Microlab in Eindhoven, which was temporarily converted into a reception site for Ukrainian refugees.

  • Roeselare
    Sponsoring cycling spectacle Na-Tourcriterium
  • Roeselare

    Sponsoring cycling spectacle Na-Tourcriterium

    As every year, brewery Rodenbach sponsored the cycling spectacle Na-Tourcriterium in Roeselare, this time won by Yves Lampaert. In addition, brewery Rodenbach opened a pop-up beach bar during the summer, where beer lovers could relax on the brewery’s sandy beach while enjoying live music. Finally, in the last quarter, the brewery was the scene of light show “Luminous Nights”. An audio-visual experience where the history of brewery Rodenbach and local legends was presented in great detail. 

  • Steenhuffel
    Festival Parkies
  • Steenhuffel

    Festival Parkies

    This year saw the 30th edition of festival Parkies, of which brewery De Hoorn and brewery Rodenbach are loyal partners. In total, Parkies offers residents of eighteen Flemish cities and municipalities a unique experience with 125 free concerts.

  • Steenhuffel
    Quest for tastiest association
  • Steenhuffel

    Quest for tastiest association

    Breweries Palm & De Hoorn believe that supporting associational life can contribute to better social cohesion and therefore supported TV format “Ring TV’s best supper”. This format was initiated to give heart to associations affected by the pandemic.

  • Steenhuffel
    Peace light for Ukraine at brewery Palm in Steenhuffel
  • Steenhuffel

    Peace light for Ukraine at brewery Palm in Steenhuffel

    Chris Schelfthout, a resident of Steenhuffel, decided to start an initiative for Ukraine. She sold candles for peace to residents of Steenhuffel and surrounding areas. Brewery De Hoorn supported this initiative. The benefit evening to conclude the campaign took place at the brewery grounds in Steenhuffel, and the brewery also made a financial contribution to make the event happen.

    All the candles, the peace light, were lit during this benefit evening. Proceeds (over EUR 12,000) went to Father Karel (Grimbergen Abbey). He coordinates the purchase and transportation of relief supplies.

  • Ukraine
    Donation UNHCR
  • Ukraine

    Donation UNHCR

    In addition to local initiatives from our various locations, we from Swinkels Family Brewers transferred a donation to aid organisation UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency. The money will allow UNHCR to provide survival kits consisting of thermal blankets, sleeping bags, coats, water and food to hundreds of families.

  • Ukraine
    Hiring refugees
  • Ukraine

    Hiring refugees

    Several refugee Ukrainians, including the daughter of our distributor in Ukraine, started working at our head office in 2022. We are happy to be able to make a difference in this way.