A somewhat mysterious building, between Sluis and Sint Anna ter Muiden. A small gable is still visible of the overgrown property on the Sint Annastraat, which once offered shelter to the nuns and where mentally disabled children were also cared for in later years, now unfortunately stands as a ruin. The property developer who bought the building wants to do something else with the land and is letting the historic building fall into decay.
The history of 't Hoompje:
The building nowadays colloquially known as "Het Hoompje" was built in 1909 by a certain Baron Cox. Officially the building was called "La Pommerie". Initially it was inhabited by the "Zusters der Kindheid van Maria" (Sisters of the Childhood of Mary), an order founded in 1838 by canon Ch. Charton. A few years after it came into use, it came into the possession of the "Soeurs de la Providence de Rouen", who were forced by the Comben laws to leave France. They founded a novitiate in the building. Some time later (date unknown), the Dominican sisters from Bruges bought the property. It provided shelter for sisters returning from the missions and was given the name "H. Hart ter Ruste" (Sacred Heart at Rest). The sisters taught mentally disabled children there.
In 1934, the Bruges Monseigneur Lamyrois instructed the "Zusters van de kindsheid van Maria" (Sisters of the Childhood of Mary) to buy the building. This brought the home back to the original order. Incidentally, the order, just like the previous owner, worked with socially and mentally disabled children. On 15 August 1934, the first three sisters of the order appeared. They cared for 25 children (Belgian, not Dutch).
After the Second World War, more specifically from 1944 to 1950, a temporary town hall and police station was set up in the building, which was relatively undamaged compared to the rest of the town of Sluis. Goods were also sold at low prices, the latter due to the fact that Sluis had been severely destroyed and many households had lost all their household belongings. This "market" at the "Providence" or "Het Hoompje" was colloquially called "de Hark". The sisters initially continued their activities in the "Hoompje". Incidentally, they did not receive any subsidy from the Dutch government, since the order was a Belgian (educational) institution. Due to changed educational views and financial reasons, the convent and boarding school was closed on 5 September 1986. The sisters and pupils left that year for Oedelem (B).
When this function was also lost, the monumental building with its surrounding gardens and impressive driveway stood empty. To prevent the entire complex from being demolished, it was placed on the national monuments list. Around 2000, the municipality sold it to a property developer who wanted to build apartments here, on the condition that the buildings would be restored. The latter did not happen and the owner let it fall into decay as quickly as possible, with the ultimate aim of demolishing it.
In the meantime, large parts of the roof and the upper floor have collapsed.