{"id":551,"date":"2023-06-15T09:33:36","date_gmt":"2023-06-15T09:33:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brouwerijdehemel.clarq.nl\/?page_id=551"},"modified":"2026-02-04T16:07:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T15:07:27","slug":"over-ons","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/brouwerijdehemel.nl\/en\/over-ons\/","title":{"rendered":"About us"},"content":{"rendered":"

THE FIRST DROP<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Founded in 1983 and still alive and kicking!
A lot has changed over the years. Curious?
Read about our rich history, and our present!<\/p>\n\n\n

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1992- 1995<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Takeover Oranjeboom and Inbev. This marked the end of De Raaf. Inbev also had Hoegaarden Wit, making it unprofitable for them to still produce De Witte Raaf.




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1996<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Birth of Brewery de Hemel! Craft and local beer. The styles and ideals remain the same, but the brewery is independent, and locally oriented. De Hemel provides Nijmegen and the surrounding area with delicious beer, and anyone who wants to can visit us.





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1996\u20132000<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It was hard work reviving the brewery. From 2000, there has been stable growth.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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2020\u20132022<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This was a difficult time for De Hemel and brewers in general. By necessity, we were selling more through retail. Corona has pretty much ended the craft beer hype. Craft beer is now normal. Years of experience, steady clientele and, of course, great beer have given De Hemel a place in the world of craft beer.





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1983<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Birth of Brouwerij de Raaf, and thus for a long time the first Dutch brewery focusing on craft beer. Founded by Herm Hegger in Heumen, a village near Nijmegen.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Late 1980s<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

De Witte Raaf, the first Dutch white beer, popular across the country. In some beer pubs, the placard of the Witte Raaf still hangs.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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2010<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From the USA, the craft beer hype blew over to the Netherlands. Breweries opened all over the country and people increasingly switched from lager to craft beer. This also caused enormous growth for our brewery.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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2016<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thieu, Herm Hegger's son, took over the brewery. Again, the beer styles and ideals remained the same, but now with more focus on modern times.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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1983<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Birth of Brouwerij de Raaf, and thus for a long time the first Dutch brewery focusing on craft beer. Founded by Herm Hegger in Heumen, a village near Nijmegen.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\n

Late 1980s<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

De Witte Raaf, the first Dutch white beer, popular across the country. In some beer pubs, the placard of the Witte Raaf still hangs.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n
\n\n

1992- 1995<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Takeover Oranjeboom and Inbev. This marked the end of De Raaf. Inbev also had Hoegaarden Wit, making it unprofitable for them to still produce De Witte Raaf.




<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n
\n\n

1996<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Birth of Brewery de Hemel! Craft and local beer. The styles and ideals remain the same, but the brewery is independent, and locally oriented. De Hemel provides Nijmegen and the surrounding area with delicious beer, and anyone who wants to can visit us.





<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n
\n\n

1996\u20132000<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It was hard work reviving the brewery. From 2000, there has been stable growth.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\n

2010<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From the USA, the craft beer hype blew over to the Netherlands. Breweries opened all over the country and people increasingly switched from lager to craft beer. This also caused enormous growth for our brewery.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n
\n\n

2016<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thieu, Herm Hegger's son, took over the brewery. Again, the beer styles and ideals remained the same, but now with more focus on modern times.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\n

2020\u20132022<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This was a difficult time for De Hemel and brewers in general. By necessity, we were selling more through retail. Corona has pretty much ended the craft beer hype. Craft beer is now normal. Years of experience, steady clientele and, of course, great beer have given De Hemel a place in the world of craft beer.





<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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1983 - 2024<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

History has made us what we are today. A small-scale, Nijmegen-based brewery that stands for tasty beers you'll want more than one of. In the coming years, we want to remain independent from large parties and financiers in order to continue brewing our own beer for Nijmegen and its surroundings. With our own team we make Hemelse beers in a way that makes us, our surroundings and our customers happy. Cheers!<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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MEET OUR TEAM<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

And their favourite beers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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HENK<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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The brewmaster, in the business for more than 30 years! Responsible for the quality of our Heavenly beers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides brewing beer, he likes to cut down (big) trees, and he prefers to drink a Helse Engel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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TEUNTJE<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Arranges everything for visitors: giving tours and hosting beer tastings, handling reservations, answering the phone, making schedules, and much more....<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Brabant pride who prefers to drink Helse Engel (or rather preferably mixed with Serafijn)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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MAARTEN<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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One of the newest brewers in Heaven. In addition, can often be seen in the Heaven bus around town, on the way to customers with fresh beers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a baseball game, Maarten prefers to drink an Eeuwige Jeugd.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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LAURA<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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As a guide, she gives tours of the brewery and hosts tastings. In summer, she can also regularly be found on the production floor helping with brewing. She was brought up on all this by her father, brewmaster Henk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can make Laura happy with a Serafijn.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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THIEU<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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One of the brewers, and the owner of the brewery. Second generation at the helm of the brewery, he has been brought up on brewing life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thieu likes all Heavenly beers, but if he had to choose one in the Moenen.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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TOM<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Besides his actual work as a communications consultant, Tom regularly joins us \"mainly because it's so much fun\" to give tours and provide our visitors with a beer tasting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He loves a Helse Engel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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XANDER<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Brewer and representative of the brewery. He stirs the kettles, as well as maintaining contact with our regular and new customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is the brewery's point of contact, and prefers to drink a Rafael. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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DAMIAN<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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As a side job alongside his studies, Damian works as a guide in the brewery. He makes sure everyone is welcomed into the brewery equipped with a good story and a tasty beer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He likes to tap a Helse Engel for himself.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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HANNES<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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He knows more about beer than many a brewer, but he is not (only at home as a hobby brewer). But fortunately, he does talk about it as a guide during tours and tastings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serafijn is what Hannes prefers to drink.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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ISABELLE<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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One of the guides at the brewery. All our visitors are made happy by Isabelle with a guided tour and a tasty beer tasting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After work, she then enjoys an Eeuwige Jeugd. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

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