Sights
11Fountains Sloten
Sloten
Sloten (or Sleat as we say here in Friesland) is the smallest of the famous Frisian cities. This fortified mini city is also known as sipelstêd (Frisian for onion city), because of its unique onion shape. Each year, there is a fun annual market on Sipelsneon, which translates as Onion Saturday. Discover all the treasures of Sloten during a guided tour, which can be booked at the tourist information office. A staff member or possibly even the town crier will take you on a tour of the corn mill, bastions, city gates and the monumental merchant houses.
Sloten really is a fortified city and still has an active town crier, Pieter Haringsma. During the peak season, Pieter calls the city together each Friday evening for the traditional firing of the canons on the grounds of De Kaai corn mill. He gives an enthusiastic explanation of how it all works. The canons are fired by the city's civic guard, in full traditional costume. Come and see it for yourself!
At the tourist information centre in Sloten, you'll always get personal advice from a local. So ask them anything you want to know about all the experiences of Southwest Friesland. At the same time, pick up your free inspirational magazine and the newspaper full of events and stories.
Our tip is to combine a visit to Sloten and to the rolling countryside of Gaasterland, the 'other' Waterland van Friesland. Standing on one of the three ridges along the IJsselmeer lake in Gaasterland, you'll have beautiful panoramic views as far as the eye can see. Behind you lies the shelter of age-old forests.
The traditional Sipelsneon is held annually in Sloten on the last Saturday in June. This market is situated in the centre and around the city canal of Sloten. The city residents will be selling all kinds of fun articles from the pavements in front of their houses. All monuments are open for the day.
