Walking through Haarlem on the Gedempte Oude Gracht, I was with my wife Hanneke when we passed a shop with a striking name: Tiesjurt. Now, spelling rules aren’t taken very strictly these days, but this name is definitely not going to make it into the dictionary. Still, it wasn’t just the name that made me stop in my tracks.
The storefront practically radiates sustainability; you can’t just walk past it. So we didn’t, and once inside, I was pleasantly surprised. Not only sustainable clothing from various cool brands, but also very original lifestyle products—the creativity really stands out.
While we were admiring the exhibition at the back of the shop, we were enthusiastically welcomed by Sam. What seemed like a standard welcome turned into a great conversation when Sander joined in. We talked about sustainability, the workshops held in the shop, the artists who are given space to exhibit there, and how working together makes the world a better place—in short, too much to mention. If we hadn’t been on our way somewhere, we would have loved to keep chatting.
So here’s a tip: if you’re in Haarlem, you should definitely stop by the shop on the Gedempte Oude Gracht with ‘Tiesjurt’ written large on the window. You’re sure to leave with a smile.
