Catalogue no. BBG126
Glasses
Exhibit information
Glass style Goblet A stemmed glass with a broad bowl, traditionally associated with stronger Belgian beers, particularly Trappist and abbey ales.
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Explainers
Capacity 25cl
Manufactured 2025 Curator’s Notes Few Belgian beers are as closely associated with both a city and a particular glass as De Koninck’s Bolleke. The amber-coloured Spéciale Belge has been brewed since 1952 and became a familiar presence in Antwerp’s cafés and terraces. Indeed, its modern name comes from the rounded glass itself: bolleke refers to its distinctive ball-like form.
This 25 cl example, manufactured in 2025, demonstrates why the shape has become so recognisable. A generous rounded bowl sits above a gently tapering stem and broad, simple foot, producing something between a goblet and a compact chalice. The proportions are substantial without being ornate.
Decoration is equally restrained. Large white BOLLEKE lettering, finely outlined in black, dominates the bowl, with the smaller De Koninck name beneath. There is little else to distract from either the beer or the characteristic silhouette of the glass.
For Antwerp, however, the Bolleke is more than simply a beer served in unusual glassware. Beer, name, glass and city have become intertwined: order a Bolleke and the word identifies both what you want to drink and the rounded vessel in which you expect it to arrive.
