A COCKTAIL OR (WALKING) DINNER &
SHOOTING WITH THE CROSS-BOW
IN THE CELLARS OF ONE OF
THE MOST VENERABLE SOCIETIES OF BRUSSELS:

The ANCIEN GRAND SERMENT ROYAL ET NOBLE DES ARBALETRIERS DE NOTRE-DAME AU SABLON

 

The guild was officially recognised in 1213 by the Duke of Brabant and is intimately linked with the earliest history of the town of Brussels.
It acquired a social position, that grew throughout the “Ancien Régime”, in particular because of its founding of the church of Notre-dame au Sablon.
The martial role of the Guild diminished little by little, to give way to peaceful tests of skill, to which important notabilities were invited.
Charles V, the Count of Egmont and the Infanta Isabella came to be installed as ‘Kings of the Shoot’.
In 1853, the Belgian King Leopold the first, donated the Guild a banner and a collar for the King of the Shoot. Since then, the Guild added ‘Royal et Noble’ to its name.
King Albert I, King Leopold III, King Baudoin and King Albert II visited the Guild or accepted the Grand Mastership.

STERKMANS.EVENTS offers an afternoon or evening at the Clubhouse:
Traditional Belgian beers, a cocktail, buffet or (walking) dinner and... initiation & competition!

The arms used are of the traditional sporting style, made of wood, and conceived to shoot with accuracy; the bear little resemblance, apart from using the same mechanical principles, to the weapons of war of the middle ages. They are not found in general distribution, but are made to order by a number of skilled craftsmen. Each arm is, therefore, unique.