First of all, pronouncing this name: throw all your French lessons overboard and speak about ‘Shaarloes’, with emphasis on ‘Shaar’. Once this reclaimed area was owned by Karel de Stoute. He gave it to a few gentlemen from the area and they named it after generous Karel. At the end of the 19th century harbours were built here with luxury homes for the harbour barons that can still be found near the Nieuwe Maas River. In the south are Ahoy, the event heart of the city, and the Zuidplein shopping centre.