Belgium: Belgium's unique beer culture inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Belgium's unique beer culture has been inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UN agency announced on November 30.

"Making and appreciating beer is part of the living heritage of a range of communities throughout Belgium. It plays a role in daily life, as well as festive occasions," UNESCO said in a press release.

Almost 1,500 types of beer are produced in the country using different fermentation methods, while some Trappist communities have also been involved in beer production giving profits to charity, it noted.

UNESCO also praised Belgium's efforts to pass down the traditional skills and knowledge in the beer industry.

"Besides being transmitted in the home and social circles, knowledge and skills are also passed down by master brewers who run classes in breweries, specialised university courses that target those involved in the field and hospitality in general, public training programs for entrepreneurs, and small test breweries for amateur brewers," it said.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel posted the news on his Twitter account, and invited people to "come on to Belgium and taste it."

Meanwhile, culture ministers of Belgium's three linguistic communities (Dutch, French and German) issued a joint statement in celebration of the inscription.

"The recognition by UNESCO is the culmination of the work of countless brewers, beer lovers, beer promoters and beer scholars. This recognition will make the beer culture in Belgium more renowned worldwide," said Isabelle Weykmans, culture minister of the German-speaking community in Belgium.

The beer culture is Belgium's 11th item inscribed on the UNESCO list. The others include the Holy Blood Procession in Bruges, the Carnivals in Binche and Aalst and the "shrimp fishing on horseback" tradition of Oostduinkerke.

30 November, 2016