Hasselt (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Jenever Museum in Hasselt provides alcohol education to young people from 15 to 18 years old. The museum guide organises educational sessions with groups consisting of pupils aged 15 to 18.
The Jenever Museum, located in Hasselt, plans to instruct teenagers about alcohol-related effects. Museum guides lead 15-to 18-year-old pupils through specialised workshops inside their school groups. The museum presents entertainment activities as part of its alcohol awareness program beyond traditional alcohol education. Jenever Museum will host workshops about alcohol usage specifically designed for students aged 15 to 18 at school.
“On the contrary, as a museum, we deal responsibly with alcohol consumption, just like alcohol producers,”
Says museum director Davy Jacobs.
The youth group will participate in discussions about alcohol behaviour with museum educators at the facility. A series of interactive games will measure students’ viewpoints towards alcohol consumption. There is also an interactive photo hunt about how alcohol is traditionally made, and students can put on ‘beer goggles’ to show what alcohol can do to their vision.
“No, we’re not going to let the students drink alcohol,”
Laughs the director.
“We will, however, introduce the students to different tastes – sweet, sour, bitter, salty and umami – and to smells to stimulate their senses.”
The aim is to make alcohol consumption a fun topic of discussion for the pupils.
“In this way, the museum wants to take on its social task as a museum. We give young people honest information about the risks of alcohol consumption, and we offer them the opportunity to develop skills for responsible alcohol consumption. In this way, we focus on a positive view of drinking and eating culture and on reflecting on your own choices,”
Says the director.
What can you experience at the Jenever Museum?
The Jenever Museum occupies a rebuilt monastery farm constructed during the 17th century, which was developed into a distillery in 1803. The museum runs an active 19th-century steam distillery plant, demonstrating historical Japanese production techniques. Visitors studying at the museum can discover where Jenever derives its components and production processes, its marketing approaches and distribution techniques, and how it shaped Belgian culture. Visitors at the Jenever Museum learn about how packaging and promotional techniques shaped the success of Jenever in the industry.
Visitors at the Jenever Museum can enjoy tasting local goods and join discussions about Jenever beverages with friends while using the tasting bar. The museum provides workshops, themed tours, and even interactive experiences like solving “the jenever murder”. The museum dedicates efforts to interacting with young audiences by providing workshops teaching responsible alcohol consumption.
