Since September 1, 2026, our artisanal chocolate shop in Schaerbeek has had a new name: Maison Pliester – Chocolatier. A look back at 40 years of Brussels history and the reasons for this change.
A Brussels chocolate shop since 1986
Our story began in 1986, when Chocolaterie Duval was born in Ixelles. Soon cramped for space, the workshop moved to Rue des Chardons in Schaerbeek — far from the storefronts of the Grand Place, in an authentic Brussels neighborhood where chocolate is made by hand, without gimmicks.
It is here, in this workshop in the municipality of Schaerbeek, that the foundations were laid for what would become our specialty: personalized chocolate. In the 1990s, Marc Lauwers took over the business and developed the first guided tours and chocolate workshops, opening the doors of chocolate making to the curious and to enthusiasts.
2011: Maxime Pliester takes over the chocolaterie
In 2011, Maxime Pliester took over this artisanal chocolaterie, which then had 25 years of history. The business became Concept Chocolate.
For 15 years, under this name, the chocolaterie underwent a profound transformation. Chocolate workshops multiplied — discovery workshops, beer and chocolate tastings, wine and chocolate tastings, team buildings, guided tours for tourist and school groups. The shop, previously closed to the neighborhood, opened its doors to the residents of Schaerbeek and visitors to Brussels.
Personalized chocolate for businesses developed considerably: chocolate logo molds, custom corporate gift boxes, creations for hotels, events, and weddings. Hundreds of Belgian and international companies trust this Brussels workshop for their chocolate projects.
In 2021, Maxime and his partner Valérie opened Glacerie Jalou 50 meters from the chocolaterie, broadening the neighborhood's gourmet offering.
Why change the name?
After 15 years at the helm of this chocolaterie, after building a team of ten artisans, welcoming more than 18,000 visitors per year from around thirty nationalities, and selling more than 15 tons of chocolate each year, one thing became clear.
We no longer felt like a "concept". We felt like a house. Our house. The one where we make, where we welcome, where we pass on knowledge. So we did the simplest thing: we put our name on it.
Maison Pliester – Chocolatier. A more personal name, more authentic, more faithful to who we are today: a Brussels artisanal house driven by a passionate team and know-how passed down for nearly 40 years.
What changes — and what does not
What changes:
Our name becomes Maison Pliester – Chocolatier. Our visual identity and packaging evolve. Our website becomes maisonpliester.be.
What does not change:
Our address remains the same: Rue des Chardons 19, 1030 Schaerbeek. Our team of ten chocolate artisans continues to make everything by hand every day in the same workshop. Our workshops, guided tours, and tastings continue to welcome visitors year-round. Our personalized chocolate service for businesses remains our specialty. And the smell of chocolate when you open the door remains "almost" the same.
A renowned artisanal chocolaterie in Brussels
This name change comes in a context of growing recognition for our work as artisanal chocolatiers in Brussels:
We have been certified Artisan by the SPF Economy since 2020, confirming our entirely hand-made production in our Schaerbeek workshop.
We have been included in the Gault&Millau selection of the best chocolatiers in Belgium since 2022.
We are members of "I Love Belgian Chocolate", the label that celebrates Belgian chocolate recognized as intangible heritage.
We carry the Green Key label, proof of our environmental commitment, particularly important for our tourism activity.
And since 2026, we have held the ShiftingPact label, reflecting our commitment to corporate sustainability.
Our know-how: quality chocolate, revealed through craftsmanship
At Maison Pliester, we do not make our chocolate from A to Z. We work with partner chocolate makers using cocoa origins carefully selected, then we reveal these chocolates through our artisanal know-how: pralines, truffles, filled bars, fingers, dragees, spreads, hollow figures, and much more.
Each creation is the result of teamwork led by Fikry, our workshop manager, and his artisans. Everything is made by hand, with gloves, in our Schaerbeek workshop.
Our experiences: much more than a chocolate shop in Brussels
Maison Pliester is also a place of experience. We offer guided tours of our workshop, participatory chocolate workshops, beer and chocolate or wine and chocolate tastings, and events for companies, tourist groups, school groups, families, and team buildings.
More than 18,000 visitors per year, from around thirty nationalities, walk through our door to discover the behind-the-scenes of artisanal Belgian chocolate making.
Personalized chocolate: our specialty since 1986
Since Chocolaterie Duval, chocolate personalization has been in our DNA. Your logo, your product, your idea — we transform it into chocolate by molding, sculpting, or transfer.
Each year, we support hundreds of companies, hotels, associations, and event organizers in creating custom chocolate gifts. Corporate gift boxes, end-of-year gifts, hotel welcome packs, wedding favors — everything is produced in our Schaerbeek workshop.
Three names, one story
Chocolaterie Duval, Concept Chocolate, Maison Pliester: three names for the same passion, the same place, and the same commitment — making quality artisanal chocolate in Brussels, with our hands and with our hearts.
Welcome to Maison Pliester – Chocolatier.
Maison Pliester – Chocolatier Rue des Chardons 19, 1030 Schaerbeek, Brussels +32 2 242 94 66 hello@maisonpliester.be maisonpliester.be
Artisanal chocolatier in Brussels – Schaerbeek | Personalized chocolate for businesses | Workshops and guided tours | Beer and chocolate tastings | Recognized by Gault&Millau | Certified Artisan
