One Job

We are heading to the Belgian Coast, but first we stopped in Sluis for coffee and to explore the town. During the middle ages the sea came all the way to Brugge and Sluis. From the late 13 century on, the area silted, make their harbors unusable.

The area around Sluis is a nature reserve called the Zwin, there is a ca canal connection  from Sluis to Brugge, canals also connect to Zeebrugge and the sea.

Some coffee before we head to the coast

The city shops

Henk and I were waiting outside a shop when this lady approached us, she had a feeling we needed some help, and told us of the legend of Jantje van Sluis, or Johannetje.

If you look closely in the tower you will see Johannetje. During The 80 Year War, the Spanish planned to attach the city at an appointed hour. Johannetje's job was to blow the trumpet in the morning. The soldiers and Johannetje got so drunk they did not wake up.  When the Spanish arrived to attack, they did not hear the morning trumpet and thought the Sluis were in hiding ready to attach them, the Spanish fled the combat site.