Beer originated thousands of years ago in the Middle East, but since the Middle Ages beer has been drunk because it was safer than water, which was usually full of bacteria.
Monasteries also played an important role in the development of beer, monks brewed beer for themselves but also for pilgrims.
From that time on, beer was drunk from earthenware or pewter beer mugs, which often had a pewter or metal lid to keep the beer at the right temperature and to repel flies.
The large grey beer mugs with a capacity of one liter came from the Bavaria area in Germany.
Beer was, in the past, but is also often drunk at parties.
It is known that members of our royal family also like to drink a beer every now and then.
Perhaps that is the reason that at royal events such as an inauguration and or een anniversary special occasion beer mugs have been commissioned.
In 1898, at the inauguration of Queen Wilhelmina, a “Wilhelmina” beer brewed by the Deli brewery even came onto the market, with a beautiful label with the image of Her Majesty.
Pottenbakkerij de Amstelhoek made a beer mug in yellow, green and blue to commemorate the inauguration. Most likely designed by Chris van der Hoef who started working at the Amstelhoek in 1898. These cups are mentioned in the book about Chris van der Hoef. The medallion on the front of the cups was designed by Lambertus Zijl.
These are now very rare, probably because many were used during the festivities surrounding the inauguration and broke in use.
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Also from 1898 a blue and white beer mug with portraits of Queen Wilhelmina and Queen Emma. These were made in two sizes and have an image in the bottom (lithophane) that appears when you hold it up to the light.
In 1937, plateel pottery Zuid Holland came with two beer mugs on the occasion of the wedding of Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard. One made on behalf of beer brewer Oranjeboom.
Beer steins were also made on the occasion of the birth of Princess Beatrix in 1938 and for Queen Wilhelmina’s 40th anniversary.
In 1962, Juliana and Bernhard celebrated their silver wedding anniversary, for which Beer brewer Oranjeboom released a beautiful mug.
The Limburg brewery Brand also released several large beer mugs, including one in 1973 for the silver jubilee of Queen Juliana, the 1980 inauguration of Queen Beatrix and one with the coat of arms of Prince Bernhard.
Several beer mugs were made for the change of throne in 1980, of which the one made by the Heineken brewery stands out made in Delft blue and white.
The last from our collection is one that was made in Germany in an edition of 200 on the occasion of the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander. Very appropriate given his old nickname Prince Beer.
