Sluys

Sluys, also known by its Dutch name Sluis, is a town and historic port in the southwestern Netherlands. It is located in Zeeland province near the Belgian border, on the estuary of the Westerschelde. The name Sluys derives from sluice, reflecting the town’s historical role in controlling water access to the estuary; the older English form Sluys appears in historical sources.

During the Middle Ages, Sluys grew as a fortified port and commercial center on the Scheldt river system. It featured walls and gates and served as a point of control in the contested frontiers between Flemish and Dutch authorities. The Battle of Sluys in 1340, one of the early large naval engagements of the Hundred Years' War, took place in the nearby estuary and had a lasting impact on naval power in the region.

In the following centuries, changes in trade patterns and river dynamics reduced its significance as a major port. Today, Sluys preserves elements of its medieval heritage, including parts of its fortifications and a historic church, and remains a site of tourism and local fishing activity. The town is part of Zeeland’s coastal landscape, attracting visitors with its well-preserved historic core and harbor atmosphere.

See also: Battle of Sluys.