The municipality of Sluis may call itself the Zeeland Tile-Wipping Champion. In 2025, the municipality removed no less than 48,542 tiles. This morning the victory was celebrated festively on the schoolyard of the TEC location in Oostburg, in the presence of deputy Arno Vael and alderman Ben van Assche.
The NK Tile-Wipping is an annual event where municipalities throughout the Netherlands compete to replace as many tiles as possible with greenery. In Zeeland there is also a special pool: ‘The Zeeland Tile-Wippers’, in which Zeeland municipalities compete among themselves for the Zeeland title. All thirteen Zeeland municipalities participated again in the last edition.
Victory for Sluis
With 48,542 tiles removed, Sluis achieved a convincing victory in the Zeeland pool. Converted, Sluis removed the most tiles per inhabitant. It was already clear that Sluis was the winner, but this morning the victory was celebrated during the award ceremony in Oostburg. The result means that thousands of square meters of stone made way for greenery. This is good for the living environment and for residents. Greening helps to reduce heat stress, retain water better and limit damage caused by heavy rain showers.
Alderman Ben van Assche is proud that his municipality has won:
“A first place for Sluis at the NK Tile-Wipping in the province of Zeeland. A really great result. We are super happy with that, but we are especially proud of our residents. They participate out of the will and desire to remove all those tiles and replace them with greenery. Residents and municipality thus work together for a green healthy living environment. That is worth much more than gold!”
Deputy Arno Vael is also pleased with the municipalitys result:
“A big compliment to the municipality of Sluis. Real hard work has been done here to make the living environment a bit greener. Extra nice that the title goes to another Zeeland municipality again this year. That says a lot about how involved residents and municipalities in Zeeland are with this theme. The municipality of Sluis has been seriously working on greening for years and is now rewarded with the title.”
Fruit tree on schoolyard in Oostburg
The award ceremony took place this morning on the schoolyard of the TEC location in Oostburg. Alderman Ben van Assche received the trophy there. The occasion was also used to further green the schoolyard: together a fruit tree was planted in the garden on the schoolyard. A nice green addition for the students of the school. In addition, the municipality received a cheque to further green.