Anyone walking down the lively Scheldestraat in Vlissingen will discover a special gem among the multicultural stores and eateries: Sjahm Market. This combination Syrian supermarket and takeaway restaurant brings the rich flavors of the Middle East to Zeeland. Behind the counter is Ammar Aljundi, a man with a story that touches and with a cuisine that connects.

From engineer to taste ambassador

At one time, Ammar worked as a structural engineer in Syria. But the war drove him to the Netherlands, where he ended up in Vlissingen via a refugee camp. "In the beginning, everything was new and uncertain. But I wanted to build something, to contribute something," he says. In Scheldestraat, he found a place with space, affordable rent and an open outlook to the world, exactly what he needed to get started.

The power of fresh and familiar

The pride of Shahm Market is undoubtedly the falafel: handmade, spicy and crispy, prepared according to a centuries-old family recipe. In addition, Ammar serves homemade chicken shawarma, fragrant spice mixes and traditional cookies reminiscent of a market in Damascus. "A customer once asked me why my falafel tastes so different. I told him: because it is made with love and memories."