Posted on November 6, 2026 November 6, 2026 by Brecht Festjens An ode to crafts In a world that is moving faster and faster, where modern technology gives us almost perfection, where productivity and increasing it are the trend of the moment, we sometimes forget to see the beauty in the everyday, in the small. On November 15 we celebrate Crafts Day. A day where many Belgian craftsmen open their doors to show their art and unique products. And we should celebrate, because in a world dominated by mass production, there are still a few who keep a tradition alive. Craftsmen take care of our cultural heritage and try to keep it current. They form, as it were, a bridge between the past and the future.
“The perfectly formed bread from the supermarket tastes only half as good as the bad bake you accidentally found in a village in France.”
A supermarket is a fantastic invention. Meat, bread, vegetables and fruit, we find everything we need in one place. This is easy and time-efficient, but it also misses something. The environment is sterile and uninspiring. I miss the butcher on our corner, where the steak was cut by the centimeter. Where a professional explained the product and how best to bake it. The perfectly formed bread from the supermarket tastes only half as good as the wasted bread you accidentally found in a village in France.
We didn’t start Den Toetëlèr for the numbers and the quotas. We wanted to bring a brewery and distillery back to the village and create unique products based on ancient methods with modern techniques. This has forced us to build our own installation and grow, adapt and learn from there.
Practicing a craft is time-consuming. It costs money and energy. It goes against the idea of entrepreneurship in this day and age. It is anything but efficient. But that’s also what makes it so beautiful. A craftsman’s products are unique. They are made with passion and you can see, feel and taste it.
Be sure to keep going to the supermarket, we do that too. But also go to your local market. Also go to a local professional. Also go to a craftsman for the unique product, the passion and the chat.
I would like to invite you to the day of crafts on November 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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