Get to know the special story of Jantje van Sluis, the hero of Sluis
Jantje van Sluis is the nickname of a colored wooden statue from 1424, which was made by Jacob van Huse and which stands in the belfry in Sluis and strikes the clock at set times.
There are various folk tales about the origin of this statue. A central story element is that Sluis was conquered by Prince Maurits in 1604 and that the Spaniards wanted to regain control of the city. In 1606 the time had come during the Attack on Sluis (1606). The Spaniards devised a ruse, fielding an army at the East Gate, while a mock maneuver had to take place on the south side to divert attention. At the agreed time, when the clock struck, the attack was to be launched.
However, the clock did not strike, because the clock-teller, nicknamed Jantje van Sluis, had just been to the fair that day and had drunk one beer too many. He had his son and his nephew wind the clock. They did it too firmly, so that the clock mechanism refused to work. As a result, the clock did not strike. The Spaniards thought of betrayal and did not dare to take the city. Still, several attempts were made to take the city. A number of guards from the East Gate were killed because the explosive charges that were supposed to unlock the drawbridges exploded on their arrival.
Jantje van Sluis has been the hero of Sluis ever since.