Public Outreach

Golden pride

Kristina, Janneke, Inge, Stephanie, Irka, Hans, Karen, Leen & guide team

For this interview, we caught up with Kristina very briefly, between meetings. To say that she and her colleagues have their hands full at the moment is an understatement. As the summer goes on, they have a stack of projects to deal with, but that’s how she likes it. To her, every day is an adventure that she throws herself into fully every time!

When did your Het Anker story start?

I started working here about seven years ago. My first assignment was to develop the activities at the distillery in Blaasveld. Even now, I still feel a warm glow when I look back on that. The Molenberg festivities were a real institution in greater Mechelen at the time and staff who were there back then still speak highly of them. This beautiful site is unfortunately closed to the general public at the moment due to renovation work. Plans to turn it back into a top destination have been in place for some time. However, there is still a lot to be done behind the scenes before I can say any more about that.

From that position you then progressed to team leader for public outreach?

That’s right, and it’s one of the things I really appreciate at the brewery. People listen to ideas here and where possible they are turned into actions. I now work directly with William, the 6th-generation executive director. So in addition to operational and day-to-day matters, I am formulating the public outreach vision with him. For instance, I just sat down with him to outline the upcoming Barrel Boutique events in September and Imperial Day in February 2024. I also work closely with other people from the hospitality and marketing team for this. The cooperation gives me huge satisfaction.

“After a long day at an event, seeing your colleagues
and feeling that satisfaction...
That's where I get my energy from!”

What else does public outreach entail?

We have a front office that works from our brewery shop and serves as the first point of contact for a lot of things, a back office that mainly works behind the scenes and a group of guides who take care of brewery tours. Finally, there is also the events team, scattered throughout Belgium and the Netherlands. All in all, there are eight permanent staff and about twenty-two freelance guides. I am proud of the fact that we can offer every visitor a full range of activities: tours in and around the brewery, dining and accommodation options and a shop with all our products. All for both private and business purposes. It means that I am literally available 24/7.

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Do you still have time to relax? Over a Gouden Carolus, for example?

Before I started here, I worked for ten years in my husband's company where he offers turnkey solutions for camp sites and accommodation for the festival sector. So I soon realised that the variety at the brewery suited me better. But getting to open the DreamVille camp site at Tomorrowland remains one of my Golden Moments. So I still regularly help my husband out during the peak season. I can't resist, I’m afraid. And I don't easily turn down a Gouden Carolus Tripel on the go. But I still have a few bottles of 2016 Indulgence Cuvée Sauvage in the cellar at home. It’s my favourite beer and I do find time for it.