OUR SPONSORING: REINVESTMENT IN LOCAL COMMUNITY
Of course the success of Groep Sleuyter is related to the community where the company is working and selling. The revival of the coast and especially of the middle coast, including Ostend and Bredene, is a main contributory factor of the company's growth. The regional authorities, social life and business communities did do their utmost and have made enormous investments in order to make the middle coast attractive and dynamic again. That's the reason why Groep Sleuyter invests a lot in local sponsoring. This sponsoring must be considered as a favour in return to the local community rather than a pure marketing tool. This way, Groep Sleuyter, and especially the Sleuyter family, shows its gratitude towards its origins: "het zeitje" (lit. the little sea).
SLEUYTER ARENA
The construction of a new multifunctional hall along the Northlaan was an important part of the PPS-project at Mariakerke, of which our INFINITY-project also was part.
This beautiful hall offers place to 5.000 spectators and can be used for different kind of activities, from pop concerts to various sports competitions. At present, this hall also is the BBO's home base (the Ostend top basketball team).
Due to the fact that this hall is located just behind our INFINITY site, and thus very close to our sales office and model apartment, it was a unique not to miss chance for Groep Sleuyter to acquire this hall's name. Groep Sleuyter has made a 10 year agreement with the directors and could rename the building into the "Sleuyter-Arena". This way, each event that takes place in the "Sleuyter-Arena" is boosting the company's publicity.
Thanks to the large financial support of Groep Sleuyter, the managing costs of the Sleuyter Arena can be paid. This kind of sponsoring perfectly fits with the Groep Sleuyter's philosophy ‘reinvesting as much as possible in various local sectors'. This way, an important capital find its way back to the source of origin: Ostend and the coast.
SOCCER CLUB CLUB BRUGGE
Groep Sleuyter has a long history of sponsoring first- and second-class top football. Without a doubt, Club Brugge is the crowning glory of this sponsoring. Since the 2008-2009 season, Groep Sleuyter is the Club's official partner. As a consequence, the company has a business lounge, corresponding seats and brand publicity on the total length of the field. Besides the support of and the association with a local top club, of course the national visibility builds an asset in this agreement.
"Club Brugge is the best medium to increase the company's name recognition in Belgium, and on top of that we are dealing here with a genuine Flemish top club, close to our own origins and our home market", puts Franklin Sleuyter, CEO of Groep Sleuyter and football fan himself.
INTERNATIONAL FILMFESTIVAL OOSTENDE
Already from the early very beginning, Groep Sleuyter has been co-sponsoring the Ostend Filmfestival. Thanks to the Ostend non-profit organization's efforts "Les films du bord de mer" and the important financial support of a.o. Groep Sleuyter, this festival has in only a few years time grown into an international value. For Groep Sleuyter is was self-evident to participate in this cultural adventure which shows great daring and vision and in addition to that puts Ostend and our coast under the cultural spotlight. It also brings back to the "queen of the Belgian sea-side resorts" the lost "glamour" and shows the renewed dynamism of the coast. And this is of course something into which Groep Sleuyter likes putting its back. For more information: http://www.filmfestivaloostende.be/.
DUATHLETE JURGEN DEREERE
Jurgen Dereere is a local duathlete, with an international and even worldwide reputation. He is a short distance duathlon specialist, sports discipline in which he is outstanding: 3x European champion, vice world champion and countless international and national contests on his record of achievements. Recently, he also wants to specialize in long distance duathlon. Furthermore, he also is a gifted 5 and 10 km runner. Plenty of disciplines in which he can proof himself in the future. Jurgen combines a military career with his sport and has already many years the statute of top sportsman by the Belgian Forces. For more information about http://www.jurgendereere.com/.
FOOTBALL CLUB FC UNION ZANDVOORDE
By supporting football club Zandvoorde, Groep Sleuyter now achieved its aim of sponsoring all important Ostend football teams. All Ostend districts are now nicely represented. And Zandvoorde could not fail: even with limited means, this club obtains nice results and can count on a large group of loyal supporters, to whom now also Groep Sleuyter belongs. For more information: http://www.zandvoorde-sportief.be/
HERMES OOSTENDE WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
On the pretext of: "It doesn't always have to be men and football", in 2009 Groep Sleuyter became the main sponsor of the Ostend Hermes Volley. Not just any team: since the beginning of the '60, the ladies of the Hermes-volleyball play on highest level. For years they are playing at the highest levels and finally also in the premier league. Groep Sleuyter is very pleased to support another Ostend top team. For more information: http://www.hermesvolley.be/.
BASKETBALL CLUB BASE OOSTENDE
Basketball and Ostend are inextricably bound up with each other. From the early years of the professional basketball in Belgium, Ostend has a top club: BBO. A logical consequence of the home base name acquisition - the "Sleuyter Arena" - has become a partnership with the team itself.
Since 2008, the Groep Sleuyter is also one of the proud sponsors of these Ostend sports ambassadors. It is a well-known Belgian and even European team. It would take us too long to enumerate their palmarès list, but no other Belgian team has more national championship titles than BCO. Regularly our clients and suppliers are invited to take a seat in the VIP seats and to enjoy the exciting match. For more information: www.bcoostende.be.
TOP JUDOKA DIRK VANTICHELT
Groep Sleuyter is also very pleased to announce the sponsorship of our Belgian top judoka Dirk Vantichelt. This world class level athlete is our hopeful Olympic medal winner in London. Since early childhood, Dirk Vantichelt is very successful in judo competition. Later he combined his university studies with sport and has a licentiate degree in physical education. A man to keep an eye on! For more information: http://www.dirkvantichelt.be/.
FOOTBALL CLUB OOSTENDE
VG Oostende is the second most important football club in Ostend and one with a very rich history. For many years Groep Sleuyter is a loyal sponsor of the VG youth series and yet also of the A core. Together with KV Oostende and Union Zandvoorde, all important Ostend football clubs are brought under the ‘Sleuyter roof'. We almost can be sure of a weekly "Sleuyter" victory. Certainly when you see the strong results of VGO. For more info: http://www.vgovoetbal.be/.