Our story

A farmhouse with a story

A listed farmhouse on the Herestraat in Duras, a bench in honour of Brum and a family with 25 years of experience.

The farmhouse

From Brum’s farmhouse to brasserie

In the heart of enchanting Duras, part of Sint-Truiden, stands a charming listed farmhouse on the picturesque Herestraat. It once belonged to a well-known local character, Fons, better known to everyone as ‘Brum’. He could often be found on the bench at the front of the farmhouse.

In honour of Brum, we kept that special bench: a silent witness to times gone by.

Today you come here for honest food, an original cocktail and genuine hospitality. In a region made for cycling and walking, the farmhouse radiates peace, beauty and character. Whether you come for a romantic evening, dinner with friends or a business meeting, there is something for everyone.

Timeline

From then to now

1099
Durachium
Duras is first mentioned as Durachium, Celtic for roughly ‘village by the fortress’. The name says it all about how strategic the place was: in the 11th and 12th centuries Duras played a central role in the conflicts between the County of Loon and the Duchy of Brabant.
1787–1789
Duras Castle
The neoclassical castle is rebuilt, on an estate of 134 hectares. Today it is privately owned.
1795
An independent municipality
With the arrival of the French, the feudal system comes to an end. Duras becomes an independent municipality.
1977
Part of Sint-Truiden
Duras becomes part of Sint-Truiden, but remains a rural farming village that cherishes its traditions and local produce.
1993
Michael goes independent
Chef Michael starts out for the first time as a self-employed restaurateur.
1998
Duras × Duras
Duras in south-west France, a wine village in Lot-et-Garonne, becomes Sint-Truiden’s twin town. The two villages lie almost 800 km apart, but their names probably mean the same thing.
Brum
Brum’s farmhouse
Our farmhouse is a 19th-century cottage, now recognised as Flemish heritage. The last owner was local character Fons, better known as ‘Brum’. We kept his bench at the front as a silent witness to times gone by.
2024
From empty farmhouse to brasserie
The farmhouse had stood empty for eight years. Father Michael and his sons Mike and Mathias renovated almost everything themselves and opened Brasserie Hoeve Duras, bringing 25 years of experience as a family restaurant.
2026
Two years of Hoeve Duras
On 1 and 2 August 2026 we celebrated our second anniversary, with priority booking for our most loyal guests.

Our own work

From empty farmhouse to brasserie

When we found the farmhouse, it had stood empty for eight years. We renovated almost everything ourselves: the rooms, the bar, the furniture, the garden and the terrace.

Chef Michael in an olive-green chef’s jacket, a checked kitchen towel over one shoulder, turning a pepper mill over pots of mussels on the stove

The Hoeve Duras bar with beer taps, glasses, a pink gerbera and bottles under warm pendant lights

A father and his sons

Hospitality
runs in the family.

Hoeve Duras is a true family business. Father Michael Hahn is the chef, with a simple motto: ‘My kitchen, my heart.’ His sons Mike and Mathias complete the story, with Mathias behind the bar and in charge of the cocktails.

Michael has been self-employed in the restaurant trade since 1993, and together they bring 25 years of experience as a family restaurant. What drives them? Looking after people and giving them a lovely time.

Laid tables with small posies in front of the green plant wall and the illuminated ‘Hoeve Duras – Food & Drinks’ sign

Our logo

Why blue?

The blue in our logo is no coincidence. Yellow and blue have been the official colours of the city flag of Sint-Truiden since 1985. That flag is inspired by an apocryphal coat of arms of the patron saint Trudo: divided diagonally in yellow and blue, with a red lion crowned in yellow at its centre.

With that blue we carry a piece of Sint-Truiden in our name, on our façade and on our menu.

More about the flag of Sint-Truiden (in Dutch)

Our kitchen