Privacy Statement
Toer de Geuze

Last updated: May 6, 2026

This privacy statement explains how we collect, use and protect personal data through the website www.toerdegeuze.be, through our communication channels and in the context of Toer de Geuze competitions, promotions and events.
We handle personal data with care and process it in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation, better known as the GDPR or AVG.

1. Who are we?

This website and the Toer de Geuze communication are managed by:
HOGE COUNCIL VOOR AMBACHTEL LAMBIKBIEREN vzw
Also known as HORAL
Magnolialaan 1 bus 4
1600 Sint-Pieters-Leeuw Belgium
VAT: BE0867.612.045
E-mail: info@horal.be

In this privacy statement, “HORAL,” “Toer de Geuze,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to the organizer and operator of this Web site and related communications.

HORAL is the data controller for personal data collected through this website, forms, contests or contact moments.

2. What personal data do we process?

Depending on how you use our website or participate in a promotion, we may process the following data:

  • surname and first name
  • email address
  • Instagram username or social media profile
  • participation data in competitions or actions
  • answers to contest questions or shifting questions
  • communications you send to us yourself
  • technical data, such as IP address, browser type, device data, pages visited and cookie preferences

We request only data necessary for the purpose for which it is collected.

We do not knowingly collect personal data from minors. Participation in contests or promotions offering alcoholic products is permitted only from the age of 18.

3. Why do we process personal data?

We process personal data for the following purposes:

3.1. To make the website work properly

We process technical data to keep the website secure, stable and user-friendly.

3.2. To answer questions

When you contact us, we use your information to process your inquiry or message.

3.3. To organize competitions and actions

When you enter a contest or win, we use your information to:

  • register your participation
  • Verify that you have validly participated
  • Assess the shifting question or contest participation
  • contact the winner
  • award the prize correctly
  • prevent abuse or fraud

Your data will not be used for newsletters or commercial communications unless you separately and expressly consent.

3.4. To communicate about Rev. de Geuze

When you sign up for communications or updates, we use your information to send you information about Toer de Geuze, lambic culture, events or activities of HORAL.

You can unsubscribe from these communications at any time.

3.5. To improve our communications and website

We may use anonymized or aggregated data to understand how our website is visited and how our communications can be improved.

Whenever possible, we use data for this purpose that cannot be traced back to you as an individual.

4. On what legal basis do we process personal data?

We process personal data only when there is a valid legal basis for doing so.

Depending on the situation, we process data based on:

  • Your consent, such as when you subscribe to news or communications
  • the performance of a contract or pre-contractual relationship, for example, when you participate in a contest or promotion
  • Our legitimate interest, such as to keep the website secure, answer questions or prevent abuse
  • A legal obligation, when we must retain or communicate certain data based on legislation

If the processing is based on consent, you can withdraw that consent at any time.

5. How long do we keep personal data?

We do not retain personal data longer than necessary for the purpose for which it was collected.

In principle, the following retention periods apply to competitions and actions:

  • data of non-winning participants will be deleted no later than 3 months after the end of the contest
  • data of the winner may be kept longer for administrative follow-up, proof of prize award or legal obligations
  • e-mail communications we keep for as long as necessary to handle your request correctly
  • data for newsletters we keep as long as you remain subscribed
  • technical and cookie data are stored according to the retention periods mentioned in our cookie policy or the settings of the tools used

When data is no longer needed, it is deleted or anonymized.

6. With whom do we share personal data?

We never sell your personal data to third parties.

We share personal data only when necessary for the purposes described above. For example, this can be done with:

  • website and hosting partners
  • IT and security partners
  • communication or marketing partners who support us
  • parties assisting in the organization or follow-up of competitions
  • shipping or logistics partners when an award needs to be delivered
  • legal, accounting or administrative service providers
  • competent authorities when we are legally required to do so

When external parties process personal data on our behalf, we ensure that they use the data only according to our instructions and in accordance with the GDPR.

7. Social media and external platforms

The Rev. de Geuze may be active on social media, such as Instagram and Facebook.

When you communicate with us through these platforms or participate in a promotion, the privacy terms of those platforms may also apply. HORAL does not have complete control over how these third-party platforms process your data.

Additionally, for contests via Instagram, the contest is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram unless specifically stated otherwise.

8. Links to other websites

Our website may contain links to other websites, for example those of partners, members, breweries, Geuze studios, tourism organizations or external platforms.

This privacy statement applies only to the website and communication channels of the Toer de Geuze and HORAL. We are not responsible for the content, security or privacy practices of external websites.

We encourage you to read the privacy statements of those websites as well.

9. Cookies

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies.

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device when you visit a Web site. They can help make the website work properly, remember preferences, collect visitor statistics or better tailor content to visitors.

We can use:

  • necessary cookies: required for the website to function correctly
  • functional cookies: to remember preferences
  • analytical cookies: to understand how visitors use the website
  • marketing cookies or pixels: only when active and allowed through cookie settings

For non-essential cookies, where required, we ask for your consent. You can change your cookie preferences through the website’s cookie settings or through your browser settings.

10. Minimum age

Toer de Geuze is all about lambic, Oude Geuze and the culture surrounding craft lambic beers.

Contests or promotions offering alcoholic products are open only to persons 18 years of age and older.

If we determine that a minor’s data was wrongfully collected as part of a contest or promotion, we will delete the data as soon as possible and the participation will be declared invalid.

11. How do we protect your data?

We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect personal data from loss, misuse, unauthorized access, alteration or unauthorized disclosure.

Only individuals who need the data for their assignment are granted access to the data.

Although we handle personal data with care, no system can guarantee absolute security.

12. What are your rights?

You have the right to:

  • access your personal data
  • have incorrect data corrected
  • have your data removed
  • Have the processing of your data restricted
  • object to certain processing operations
  • withdraw your consent when the processing is based on consent
  • Have your data transferred, when legally applicable

You can exercise your rights by contacting us at:
info@horal.be

To prevent abuse, we may ask you to confirm your identity.

If you ask for your data to be deleted before the end of a contest in which you participate, your participation may automatically expire as we will no longer be able to process your participation correctly.

13. Complaints

If you feel we are not handling your personal data correctly, please contact us at:
info@horal.be

You also have the right to file a complaint with the Belgian Data Protection Authority:

Data Protection Authority
Printing Press Street 35
1000 Brussels
www.gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit.be

14. Changes to this privacy statement.

We may update this privacy statement when necessary, for example, due to changes in legislation, our operation, our website or our communication channels.

The most recent version is always available on this website.