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Our history
5 generations of bakers in the same family. Since 1898, craftsmanship and authenticity have been at the heart of our business.
The 1st generation of artisan bakers is established at 726 chaussée de Waterloo. Mr Henri De Pauw in the workshop and Mrs De Vocht in the store. Together, they have a daughter, Anna De Pauw.
2nd generation of the Govart bakery.
The 2nd generation of artisan bakers is established with Anna De Smedt and Henri De Pauw.
Anna De Pauw grew up in the family bakery at 726 chaussée de Waterloo in the Bascule district of Uccle. She was working there with her parents when she met the man of her life, Louis De Smedt. Naturally, Louis learned the bakery trade and worked in the workshop, while Anna ran the store.
Together, they had a daughter, Louise De Smedt. The couple would in turn educate their daughter in the family bakery. Old-timers in the Bascule district remember Anna sitting on a chair near the store. For as long as there was bread for sale, customers could come and buy it.
The 3rd generation of artisan bakers takes shape with Louise De Smedt and Pol Govart.
Young Louise De Smedt has grown up and is now working in the family bakery. Around the age of 20, she fell in love with Pol Govart. The young man also developed a passion for the craft of baking. From their union Henri and Jean-Louis Govart were born. Pol died in 1986 at the age of 65. As for Louise, she worked with her family in the Govart bakery store until the age of 84.
The Govart family’s 4th generation of artisan bakers is forging ahead.
Young Jean-Louis Govart grew up within the family unit. The teenager decided to learn the craft of baking from his father, Pol Govart. To complete his training, he decided to attend CERIA in the Boulangerie-Pâtisserie-Chocolaterie section. At the age of 18, he too joined the Govart bakery workshop to work with his family.
A few years later, he fell madly in love with the beautiful Dora Dewynans. After completing her studies, the young woman joined the Govart family clan to work in the store with her mother-in-law and great-mother-in-law. In 1989, they took over the family business.
In the meantime, the couple have a son, Jessie Govart, and like previous generations, he will be immersed in the workshop from an early age.
The 5th generation of Govart bakery craftsmen is in the house.
Jessie Govart follows in his father’s footsteps. He learns from him and also goes to CERIA to complete his training as a baker-patissier-chocolatier.
It was at school that Jessie Govart met the woman of her life, Nathalie Kohn.
At 18 and 19, the young couple joined the family in the workshop and store of the Govart bakery, still located in Uccle at the time. For 8 years they learned the craft of artisan baking.
In 2007, the couple decided to give up their apron and start studying in a completely different field. In the process, they gave birth to their son, Joshua Govart.
In 2013, on their retirement, Dora and Jean-Louis Govart sold the family home at 726 chaussée de Waterloo in Uccle.
And then, one fine day in 2024…
17 years after leaving the Govart family bakery, Jessie and Nathalie return to their roots.
Together, they opened an artisan bakery at their home in Alsemberg, producing natural sourdough breads and brioches.
Once a week, and by order only, you can discover and taste their 100% artisanal, natural sourdough products made from pure stone-ground spelt flour.
126 years have passed since the Govart family’s very first bakery was founded.
However, the 5th generation of the Govart artisan bakery, now called Govart Bakery, is undergoing a revival.
FAQs
The press is talking about the Govart family.
- 5 generations of artisan bakers in the same family.
- A passion for natural sourdough bread.
- Pure Belgian spelt flour with no additives, ground the old-fashioned way!
