World · Europe · 12 mins ago
11 taken to hospital after tasting water at Grolsch brewery
Eleven visitors and guides were taken to hospital after tasting brewing water during a tour at the Grolsch brewery in Enschede.
Some people reported a strange, sour taste and a burning feeling after drinking it.
The water may have contained sodium hydroxide, a highly corrosive chemical used in industrial processes.
Possible injuries include burns to the throat, stomach and esophagus.
How the chemical entered the water is not known.
Police and the Netherlands Labour Authority have started an investigation, and firefighters brought the situation under control.
Grolsch says its products were not contaminated and that brewing can continue.
The available information does not say how the injured people are recovering.
Eleven people, including nine visitors and two tour guides, were taken to hospital after tasting spring water at the Grolsch brewery in Enschede.
The water, used in brewing beer, may have been contaminated with caustic soda, a corrosive substance.
A visitor said some people noticed a strange, sour taste and a burning feeling in their stomachs after tasting it.
Police and the Netherlands Labour Authority have opened an investigation into the incident.
Grolsch said its products were not contaminated and production could continue.
- Who
- Nine visitors and two tour guides were taken to hospital.
- What
- They became unwell after tasting spring water used to brew beer. The water may have contained caustic soda.
- When
- Saturday, 17 October 2026.
- Where
- The Grolsch brewery on Brouwerslaan in Enschede.
- Why
- The cause is unknown. The water may have been contaminated with caustic soda.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Several people were taken to hospital after an incident at the Grolsch brewery.
Police and the Netherlands Labour Authority started an investigation.
- People taken to hospital
- 11
- Visitors
- 9
- Tour guides
- 2
- Location
- Grolsch brewery, Brouwerslaan, Enschede
- Suspected substance
- Caustic soda
4 sources
Elf personen naar ziekenhuis na proeven van brouwwater in Grolsch-brouwerij
Bezoekers en rondleiders raken onwel na drinken van Grolsch bronwater
Meerdere gewonden bij incident met gevaarlijke stof bij Grolschfabriek
Meerdere gewonden bij incident in Grolsch-fabriek: slachtoffers overgebracht naar ziekenhuis
What people are saying
We were given shot glasses filled with the special spring water. After some of us had tasted it, we noticed a strange, sour taste and got a burning feeling in our stomach.
How this could have happened is not clear to us. Our priority for now is the health of our visitors and employees.