The architect Jos Bedaux was born in Tilburg. His father was a contractor, and with him he taught himself the trade. In 1946, he was asked to design and realize around a hundred homes, shops, and public buildings in Sluis, which had been largely destroyed by the war.
After the war, the city of Sluis was destroyed as a result of bombings and shelling by the Allies. The historic city centre with its beautiful Belfry had to be almost entirely rebuilt. For Sluis, it was decided to rebuild according to the original medieval street plan, so as to keep the unique character of the old city as intact as possible.
Bedaux's homes stand out especially for the unique character that almost every one of his homes received. Bedaux succeeded in giving each design a personal touch. Sometimes by applying natural stone or metal facade ornaments, other times by using slightly different windows or transom windows. He also regularly varied the dimensions of the homes in width and height. Despite being almost seventy years old, Bedaux's homes have largely retained their appearance, their original character.
Curious about Bedaux's beautiful facades in Sluis? You can find them, among others, in Dinsdagstraat, Hoogstraat and Van Dalestraat. A complete overview can be found on the website: www.josbedaux.nl
