Huize Ellis · De Rouvilleweg 7 · Otrobanda
Our Story
How a monumental waterfront building from the 1870s became a craft brewery, named after the swinging bridge right in front of it.
After 22 years, Grand Café De Gouverneur extended with a beautiful new hospitality concept in its neighboring monumental building, named after our iconic floating pontoon bridge in front of the brewery: the Queen Emma Bridge, locally known as the Swinging Old Lady.
In this beast of a building, built during 1870 and 1880, you will find a state of the art craft brewery, taprooms, a harbor front terrace and a tasting room. It is also equipped with a modern kitchen, where we prepare finger licking good beer pairing dishes and snacks.
Then
Now
A building with many lives
The building has a long and varied history. In former days it was called Huize Ellis, named after the family who used to live here. Over the years it also housed the offices of the Economic Affairs department of the Curaçao government, the Jacob Gelt Dekker Institute and a dialysis center. After these uses, however, the building stood empty for quite some time.
2019: a new idea
In 2019 the idea emerged to bring new life to this historical waterfront landmark. As the neighbor of Grand Café De Gouverneur, the owner recognized the potential of the location and envisioned transforming it into a modern brewpub: a place where beer could be brewed on site and enjoyed fresh, right where it was made.
Initially there were plans to acquire an existing brewery from Richmond, California (Benoit & Casper Brewing Co.) and relocate the brewing equipment to Curaçao. The COVID pandemic, however, delayed those plans significantly.
The renovation
When the pandemic ended, the original plan was revived and the building underwent a major renovation that lasted roughly two years, under the supervision of our craftsman Ab Jansen.
After visiting many craft breweries in Holland, and with the professional help of brewer and former brewery owner Rick van den Brink, the modern brewery was designed, bought, shipped, installed and started up inside the monumental building. Rick also developed the initial recipes.
The brewmaster
Today the beers are brewed by brewmaster Roland Boschman, who used to own his own craft brewery in Holland: D'n Drul in Groesbeek. Roland is now responsible for the current lineup and the continued development of the Swinging Old Lady's recipes.
Design with a story
Design plays a key role in shaping the identity of the brewery. It starts with the modern and crisp stainless steel brew equipment and the ten huge 1000 liter serving tanks on the first floor, with the indoor taproom and upper bar all housed in this huge, monumental landmark.
The name of the brewery and the names of the beers are all inspired by different dance styles. The color palette used for the taplights and branding is inspired by the colors of the Handelskade buildings across the water. Both are creations of the brewery's in house beer geek and manager Wouter Snel.
Even the picnic tables outside on the beer deck carry a direct piece of local history: they are made from original wood taken from the Queen Emma Bridge itself.
Brewed in small batches, by passionate beer lovers
Come see the monument, the tanks and the terrace for yourself. A fresh beer is waiting.
Visit the brewery See our beers