In the heart of Sluis stands a building unlike any other in the Netherlands: the Belfry of Sluis. Once built as a city and watchtower in Flemish style, it now houses an interactive museum where language, power, and landscape come together.
Did you know the origins of the Dutch dictionary can be traced back to this very place? At the Belfry, you’ll discover the life story of Johan Hendrik van Dale, born in Sluis and the man behind the Netherlands’ most iconic dictionary. The museum highlights his work, but also tells the broader story of Sluis; as a fortified town, administrative centre, and historic border city.
The Belfry of Sluis is a tangible landmark of border history, administrative power, and the evolution of language. From the tower, you can see how the landscape has been shaped both strategically and symbolically. Sluis sits at the intersection of reclaimed land, waterways, and linguistic regions.