Sluis -- International Shopping, De Frietstal Restaurant, Border Town Atmosphere

Start Page History Museums & Art Society & Culture Itineraries Practical Tips Town by Town Photos & Videos Features & Columns Links About Contact More info at trackandtrain.com De Frietstal is my favorite restaurant south of the Westerschelde River Next to De Frietstal is a windmill with another restaurant Sluis is a border town, and here the Netherlands speed limits are posted

Holland Town-By-Town Home Practical Tips and Photos Page Why Visit Small Towns in Holland? Driving in the Netherlands Maps, Routes, and the ANWB Brugge -- Amsterdam Suggestions Sluis - Border Town With Great Shopping and Restaurants Sluis is a gateway to the Netherlands from Belgium near Brugge, Knokke-Heist, or Damme. The Dutch word "sluis" is the same as the English word "sluice." In the United States we might say lock instead to indicate a place where water levels are raised and lowered to allow ships to travel into waterways of differing elevations. Sluis is a popular shopping town for Belgians and Dutch people on the weekends, especially on a sunny day. I was driving past Sluis one time on a cold Saturday in January, but I avoided the town because of the traffic jam. I only wanted to stop at De Frietstal restaurant for dinner, but instead I continued on to Brugge. Sluis has a wide range of shopping for varied interests. The town has all the regular stores you would expect in any shopping area, but there are two extras for those so inclined. While the nearest coffeeshop is 30km away in Terneuzen, Sluis has a few sex shops as well as a smartshop. There are no window girls, just shops that sell sex accessories and toys. These stores are common in medium- to large-sized cities, but are more unusual in small towns like Sluis. This is part of the ambience of a border town. Another characteristic of a border town is the casual acceptance of multiple currencies. I was with a friend in a nice cigar store in Sluis where the clerk was quoting prices in both guilders and belgian francs, as well as converting these numbers to dollars for us. This cigar store is just across from the canal in the shopping area, and my friend was excited to buy Cuban cigars, which are banned from the United States. The windmill in Sluis has a restaurant in it, but I have never tried it. Instead I really like De Frietstal Restaurant next to the windmill. De Frietstal has a varied menu of appetizers and entrees. I have tried the steak in mushroom sauce and the shrimp scampi. Both meals were excellent, and both were followed by a surprise liqueur mix. .