Let’s be honest summertime in Europe is what dreams are made of.
The cobblestones can wait, the emails can rot, and the deadlines? Nah. Just ditch the work mindset, grab your towel, and head to where Europe really shines: its tranquil, sun-drenched lakes.
Every now and then, you stumble upon a place where the water’s warm, the sand is soft, and the beer is Belgian and blessed. Enter Fun Beach in Panheel, where the lake glistens, the beach actually has real white sand, and the only agenda is
relax, swim, repeat.
Oh, and did I mention there’s a bottle of Val-Dieu Blond with your name on it?
This describes perfectly the travel experience from my last #BeerSaturday and sounds perfect to mark the location with a pin from #Worldmappin for all of you who like to do the same.
This post is your triple-feature summer escape:
So come along bathing suit on, worries off.
Enjoy my Val-Dieu Blond as this Abbey Elegance Meets Sunny Escapism
My fist First Impressions: Monastic Gold in a Glass 🥃
Val-Dieu Blond is the kind of beer that makes you pause. It doesn’t scream for attention, it radiates calm confidence, like a monk with a well kept secret.
Brewed in the historic Abbaye du Val-Dieu in eastern Belgium, this Belgian blonde ale lands at a graceful 6.0% ABV.
Golden in the glass, with a gentle white head and soft carbonation, it immediately gives off warm aromas of honeysuckle, light malt, and a hint of banana.
The first sip is a stroll through an abbey garden in late spring. Floral notes blend with a light honeyed sweetness, balanced by a touch of peppery yeast spice. The malt is soft and biscuity, the hops are subtle, and the body is light without being thin.
It’s not a beer that rushes you, it unfolds, slowly and serenely, with every sip offering a little more nuance. The finish is dry, clean, and just gently warming. It’s Belgian craftsmanship in its purest, most approachable form.
Val-Dieu is one of the few abbey beers in Belgium still brewed within an actual abbey, by lay brewers working in the tradition of the Cistercian monks who once lived and prayed there.
There’s a spiritual depth to this beer, not because it preaches, but because it’s made with patience, precision, and peace.
And while other blondes may go for shock or sweetness, Val-Dieu Blond is about balance and quiet complexity. It doesn’t need gimmicks. It just needs a glass and your attention.
The bottle doesn’t scream; it invites. The monastic label design, with the Val-Dieu abbey in watercolor tones, tells you exactly what kind of beer this is: honest, traditional, and built on history.
It’s not flashy, and that’s the point. This is a beer for reflection, not Instagram.
Located in Aubel, near the Dutch and German borders, Abbaye du Val-Dieu dates back to 1216.
Though the monks are no longer brewing, the abbey’s spirit lives on through the brewery’s commitment to traditional methods: long fermentation times, natural carbonation, and recipes rooted in monastic brewing knowledge.
If you ever get the chance, a visit to the abbey is a peaceful, almost meditative experience especially if you follow it with a cold one in the on-site café.
Read more at my other post at @detlev/we-celebrate-100-weeks-of-beersaturday-with-a-very-special-beer
So what happens when you take this calm, abbey-born beer and bring it to the most unexpectedly perfect setting?
Cue: a sunny day, the gentle breeze off the lake, and Fun Beach in Panheel, Netherlands. See more at their website at https://www.funbeach.nl/en
Yep—after a morning exploring the countryside and picking up a few bottles of Val-Dieu Blond, I drove over the border to Fun Beach Event & Leisurepark.
There I was, sitting lakeside in the soft sand, toes in the water, sun overhead, and a cold Val-Dieu Blond in hand.
It was the perfect contrast: the peaceful stillness of the abbey bottled into the beer, meeting the energy and light of a summer afternoon at the beach. The gentle malt and spicy yeast flavors were a match made in heaven for the sunshine, and I swear the carbonation felt like it fizzed with extra joy in that setting.
Fun Beach isn’t just a lake with a few loungers—it’s a full-blown water wonderland. Whether you’re five, fifteen, or forty-five, there’s something to splash into.
The Fun Beach Waterpark features a massive inflatable obstacle course right on the lake: slides, trampolines, climbing walls, and floating madness. Kids go wild, teens show off, and adults realize just how out of shape they are (but have a blast anyway).
If you want a little less adrenaline, there’s safe swimming zones, paddleboarding, and just floating around in pure summer mode.
What a cool place to chill. But sadly it was closed this day or only open in the evening for private parties. Anyway, enjoy the pictures and think about the next Hive party at this location.
After the jumping, climbing, sunbathing, or possibly a nap under a parasol, you’ll want to refuel. Scroll up and enjoy my Val-Dieu!
Located in Panheel, Limburg, just a short hop from the Belgian and German border, Fun Beach is a hidden gem for those who want lake vibes without driving all the way to the sea.
It’s clean, spacious, friendly, and honestly kind of a surprise: you expect “leisure park,” and you get an actual day getaway.
Parking is easy, tickets are affordable, and the facilities are well-kept. It’s family-friendly, couple-approved, and ideal for beerlovers looking to sneak in some sun with their suds.
If you’re traveling in the Belgium-Netherlands-Germany triangle, make Fun Beach your sunny pitstop and bring a Val-Dieu Blond for the ride.
Val-Dieu Blond may have its roots in abbey stone and centuries-old brewing wisdom, but it turns out, it travels very well.
Whether you’re sipping it in a monastery courtyard or lakeside at Fun Beach in your sunglasses and flip-flops, this beer delivers tranquility with every sip.
It’s the perfect blonde for those who love tradition—but aren’t afraid to take it on a little holiday.
Prost to quiet monks, loud sunshine, and beers that work in both worlds.
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pic by 
@Detlev loves HIVE
