Fan of Sluis.

Fan of Sluis

In restaurant The Heart of Sluis, overlooking the Belfry, we speak with Marlies van Damme about her Sluis. Marlies moved to Sluis from Brabant 50 years ago for her great love Frank.

In 1976, she co-founded the Pinokkio playgroup in the former medical centre, ran a shop selling painting supplies and a gallery with her husband for many years, and is (still) active as a volunteer in a great many clubs.

Centre of Sluis

Marlies can be found in the centre of Sluis almost every day doing her daily shopping. “I rarely shop outside Sluis, unless I really have to”. And if her knees cooperate, she likes to combine it with a walk along the ramparts, and on a sunny day you can often see her enjoying herself on one of the many terraces.

An absolute must...

According to Marlies, the Belfry is an absolute must: “everyone knows it from the outside, but not everyone knows that it houses a museum and that you can climb the tower”. Lectures and exhibitions are also regularly organised by the J.H. van Dale Foundation. Marlies's tip: “go to a coffee concert on Sunday morning, have lunch somewhere afterwards and finish with a round of shopping. You can find the Belfry's agenda here; www.stichtingjhvandale.nl

Memories of Sluis

According to Marlies, there are so many lovely memories: “By land, by sea and in the air, which was broadcast twice from the Kaai. And the street fairs in the ’80s were always wonderful. Everyone helped each other in those days and there was a great sense of solidarity”.

What makes Sluis special?

According to Marlies, the Belgian visitors who have been coming here for generations are a familiar sight. And she understands why: “the tour of the town centre is pleasant, not too big, and you can find practically everything there. The contrast between the bustle in the shopping streets and the tranquillity in the residential neighbourhoods makes Sluis so unique and a wonderful place to live”.