Archaeological collection Belfort – Sluis (NL)

Art and the most famous clockman

Sluis was founded at the end of the 13th century and quickly grew into a large and thriving port city. The Golden Age of Sluis was the time of the Burgundians, in the late Middle Ages. The Sluis belfry, one of the oldest and most beautiful buildings in the Zwin region, dates from that time.

The most beautiful room in the belfry is the council chamber. Beautiful, because of the heraldic coats of arms on the ceiling, the paintings on the walls and the art objects in the display cases. The room is full of stories. If the walls could speak, they would tell of the lavish wedding of the Burgundian duke Philip the Good that took place here. Or about the betrothal of his son Charles the Bold. Paintings by Flemish masters such as Pieter Paul Rubens, Andries van Eervelt and Jacob van Loo are from a slightly later period. Slightly younger paintings show acts of war near Aardenburg and Sluis in 1672 and 1702.

The artefacts date from the 15th to 18th centuries. These include pottery, a beautifully decorated four-scissors fence, a richly decorated drinking horn of the St. Catherine's Guild, a colorful gobelin and beautifully carved wood sculptures.

In the tower that you can climb, you can hear Jantje van Sluis, the most famous bellman in our region. On the tower you have a beautiful view of the fortifications around the city.

Address
Archaeological Collection Belfry Sluis
Groote Markt 1
NL-4524 CD Lock
Phone: +31 (0) 117 45 70 00 and 45 71 62
Fax: + 31 (0) 117 45 22 41
Email: awilleboordse@gemeentesluis.nl

Practical information
Open
May, June, September and October: Sundays from 14:00-17:00
July and August: daily from 13:00-17:00
Open all year round for groups by appointment
Rates
Adult: €2.00
Child, 65+ and groups (minimum 10 people): € 1.00
Family ticket (maximum 2 adults + 4 children): €4.50
Guided tours: On request
Accessible to less mobile visitors: Partially

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