Take a look inside the Ghent city brewery of Duvel CEO Michel Moortgat
It took no less than twelve years to renovate the city palace in Ghent, where Michel Moortgat, CEO of the Duvel brewery, has recently been distilling vodka and rum.
Michel Moortgat calls the purchase of this property a labor of love. 'When I entered this building, in such a historic place, the birthplace of Ghent, I was immediately sold. It's just crazy that you can still find such a building in such a location. Everything is here: art, culture, history. The Biezenkapelstraat at the front door leads to the cathedral and is simply one of the most beautiful and original streets in Ghent.'
'When I walk around here and I hear the singing from the windows of the music academy, I imagine myself in the 18th century. During the renovation, the city archaeologists dug in our cellars. All of this has now been researched and catalogued. Three pallets of historical finds are on their way back to us. Isn't that unique?'
Although he says he has a few gray hairs left over. 'My wife in particular has invested a great deal of time in this over the past few years. And on the way come the doubts. What are we doing?'
A renovation of twelve years... Could it be that the Ghent urban planning department – not really known as a flexible interlocutor – has something to do with it? 'The renovation took several years longer than planned. But I can understand that.' During the renovation of the roof, the roof slates had to be replaced. Today you click slates together with a hook. But in the 18th century the slates were nailed down. The city services asked that this technique be respected and we followed them. Time-intensive indeed, but during nailing you also break a quarter of the slates. But that has to be it.'
A renovation of twelve years... Could it be that the Ghent urban planning department – not really known as a flexible interlocutor – has something to do with it? 'The renovation took several years longer than planned. But I can understand that.' During the renovation of the roof, the roof slates had to be replaced. Today you click slates together with a hook. But in the 18th century the slates were nailed down. The city services asked that this technique be respected and we followed them. Time-intensive indeed, but during nailing you also break a quarter of the slates. But that has to be it.'
A monumental staircase enthrones in the center of the city palace. The walls were painted by Norbert Heylbroeck in 1764. Down at the foot of the stairs you are watched by monsters from the underworld and you end up in the middle of the sky at the top.
'We had the wall paintings fully restored. A few things have come to light. The nuns had a breast covered here and there. And here behind me satyr was painted over with a bush.'
It will not be a real private museum where the family shows the historic building and its contemporary collection. 'We are still looking for ways to open it up to the public from time to time. Maybe on Heritage Day?'
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