Dulle Griet

Dulle Griet is a historic beer cafe at Vrijdagmarkt 50 in the centre of Ghent, in the Flemish Region of Belgium. The room is dark, wood-lined and crowded with beer memorabilia, and it has long been a fixture for locals, students and beer-minded visitors who come for the very long menu of Belgian beers, listed at more than 250 labels. The crowd is mixed in age, from university students in the early evening to regulars at the bar later on, and the atmosphere is convivial and noisy rather than formal. There is no dress code; casual clothes are the norm. Music is incidental, with conversation taking the lead. The drinks programme centres on Belgian ales: abbey and Trappist beers, strong golden ales, lambics and seasonal specials, many served in their own branded glasses. The venue is best known for the 'Max' beer, served in an oversized glass of roughly a metre in height, and for the house tradition of asking a drinker to leave a shoe as a deposit for the glass, which is hung from the ceiling until the glass is returned. Prices sit in the mid range (€€), with strong beers costing more than standard pours. Hours typically run from the afternoon to late evening, with the busiest period on Friday and Saturday nights, when the market square outside fills with people; weeknights are calmer and easier for finding a table. There is no cover charge, and the cafe generally works on a walk-in basis rather than reservations, so groups may need to wait or stand at peak times. Bottle-service norms do not apply; ordering is at the bar or by table service. Because opening patterns can change by day and season, checking ahead is advisable. Visitors exploring Ghent's old town can combine it with nearby sights on the Vrijdagmarkt and the canal-side centre, making it a natural stop before dinner or a final drink at the end of a night out.