February 2, 2010
A romantic venue where you can acquire three of perhaps the most famous beers known to Ratebeerians. The classic Westvleteren. The cafe is situated accross from the monnastry and close to this picture. You get serverd in authentic trappist glasses and can actually pick up a six pack from the adjacent Westvleteren store. I loved the patte when I was here last. A terrific Flemmish dish oozing quality. I had a little struggle working out the menu and feel more English menus should be displayed. It is a great place but the selection of beer is rather limited. Loved the conditioning though.

January 20, 2010
When I first saw In the Vrede I couldn’t believe my eyes. What a big and modern bar is this. This first impression was nothing compared to a first look in the bar itself. If was full of people and waiters walking around with liquid gold. It was around 16:00 so luckely I found a place to sit. I ordered the 8 and it was serverd rather quickly. Some time later I came back and it was around 14:00 and it was very calm so that was a real relief. Unfortunately there was a longer waiting time then. The inside is large with good chairs and a little shop where you can buy some Trappist products. You can also buy some beer, but this is very limited. On the outside there is a large terrace where you can sit in all peace and enjoy of the weather and your beer. Between some hours you can choose to take a look at the Claustrum. This a kind of museum where you can learn more about the Trappist order. The selection is rather limited, but I don’t see any other reason why you should come here if you will not drink a Westvleteren. The food is good and especially the icecream based on the 12.

January 17, 2010
In the middle of the Flemish fields you find In de Vrede. The only bar which may serve the Westvleteren Trappist beers. The only reason why you should come here is to taste the Westvleteren. There are no other beers so there isn’t a large selection. There are a lot of waiters but on a hot summer day you can wait for some time before you will get your order. The prices for the Westvleteren are ok, but still to high considering that the brewery is just on the other side of the street. If you want to enjoy of a nice Westvleteren in a peacefull surrounding you should come to this place.

December 23, 2009
Stopped here directly after picking up some 12’s from the Abbey. This place was more modern than what i was expecting, and very large. the service was good, and the staff even helped us find our way to de Struise! The selection is obviously only comprised of three beers, but that’s what people come here for... the pricing was good to, and we got some Westvleteren Goblets to take home.

September 16, 2009
This is strange place. Very busy place, even a.m. Mostly elderly people but everyone’s getting what they want: Westvleteren brews. Selection is quite hard to rate. Quality of selection: 100%. Variety of selection: 3%. The food was OK.

September 15, 2009
It’s hard to say anything bad about this place. Sure, the food is limited and they only have three beers...got a six pack to go at ridiculously low prices, and had 2 of each beer in the hall, plus a last blonde as a night cap. Honestly, I felt I could have sat there forever. Hard as hell to get to, but hey, it’s a fairytale environment. The 12 seemed to need a little more age.

July 26, 2009
nice terrace with panoramic view ! beerlist covers only the 3 Westvleteren beers, foodlist is not extensive but quality is good, sometimes very busy and noisy

July 15, 2009
You drive into the absolute middle of nowhere and then you turn a corner to find a carpark full of cars, and a bar full of tourists. The beer was lovely, and managed to get some to go (albeit the blonde) but you felt like you were in a museum to be fair. Very close to Calais for those lunchtimes before evening ferries so idea for that but share the Westvletern 12 or you’ll be well over the legal drink limit.. Cheese also is superb !

June 23, 2009
Have been here a couple of times now and both via pleasant cycle rides through the West Flanders countryside form Ypres (Ieper) a couple of years ago and most recently 10-06-09 from Kemmel. The cafe I once amusingly heard descibed by a fellow UK rater as being like a Ski Chalet, he was right, ironic that then that it is in such a flat area. It’s rather clinical and lacking in atmosphere unfortunately but the beers are what you’re here for and at prices ranging between 3-4 Euro’s as I recall quite reasonable for such top class beverages. It’s worth popping by here just to try the beers but then nip off to a proper beer cafe somewhere after for a real Belgian Cafe and beer experience.

March 22, 2009
The abbey bells were ringing when we arrived here late on a Sunday night last March. A huge building, IDV has a big airy modern cottage flow with a book shop in the corner (that offered us free bottle caps when we purchased some glassware) and the bar running through the middle side and what seems like hundreds of tables. Nearly full to capacity of locals, they seemed to be staring at our notebooks and gleeful faces -- that is, until they turned murderous when our neighbours started SMOKING. Service was friendly but very busy. We shared a cheese platter and the three beers they have, bottled of course. The beer truly is amazing here, it’s a shame we couldn’t stay longer.