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Visit Sloten: the smallest Eleven Cities town

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    sleat

    gracht in sloten

  • sloten

    sleat

    terras aan de gracht sloten

Discover Sloten, its surroundings and the Slotermeer

Sloten (or Sleat as we say in Friesland) is the smallest Elfsteden town in Friesland. This walled mini-city is also called sipelstêd (Frisian for onion city) thanks to the unique shape of an onion. A recurring event is the pleasant annual market on Sipelsneon, or onion Saturday. Discover all the treasures of Sloten by taking a city walk. Discover the Flour Mill, bastions, gates and the monumental merchant houses. Below you will find all information about your visit to Sloten and what you should not miss. Don't forget to discover the surrounding villages and the Slotermeer. Plan your visit to Sloten today!

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An overview of all addresses in Sloten

Discover seven treasures of Sloten

  • In the heart of Sloten, in the former City Hall dating from 1759-1761, you can find the city museum. Here you will enjoy a revealing view of the city’s history. In the attic space you’ll find the ‘Laterna Magica’: the most beautiful collection of magic lanterns in the Netherlands.

    Visit Museum Sloten
    toverlantaarn uit 1920 sloten

  • The late-Gothic Protestant church in Sloten was built in 1647 on the site where the St John's Chapel once stood. Almost two centuries later, in 1843, the small spire tower at the top of the church was renovated. The bell in the spire was cast by an unknown bell founder in the 17th or 18th century.

    Visit the church
    kerk Sloten met gracht

  • Once they were no longer required, the Gates enclosing the fortified town of Sloten were demolished and disposed of. Luckily, the water gates managed to escape the wrecking ball. There are two of them in Sloten, namely: the Sneker or Woudsender Gate and the southern or Lemster Gate. If you sail into Sloten from Lemmer, the wonderful scene that greets you is the windmill together with the Lemster Gate, a vista often captured in photographs. There’s a pillory at the foot of the Lemster Gate. A reminder of the time that Sloten had its own jurisdiction and could pass convictions.

    Read more about the invasion
    vestingwerk sloten

  • When visiting Sloten, there's a good chance you'll see the laundry hanging out on the washing line along the city moat. This is an homage to the ‘bleaches’ of the past. This was a grassy commons area on which freshly washed linen was left to dry in the sun.

    Read more about the washing lines of Sloten
    witte was aan de waslijn

  • Water, the source of all life, is in no short supply in the Netherlands. We simply need to open the tap and out it flows. There are so many places in the world where people walk for miles to fill their jerry can, bucket or wash tub. And while it may seem so natural and obvious to us, there is no guarantee it will stay that way. Once upon a time, the peewit meadow bird could be found in large numbers in Friesland, yet its very existence is now threatened. Will we succeed in saving or even improving the fragile balance? Is that what this fountain is trying to tell us? Judge for yourself.

    Read more about the fountain
    fontein van sloten

  • Sloten really is a fortified city and still has an active town crier, named Pieter Haringsma. During the peak season, Pieter calls the city together each Friday evening for the traditional firing of the cannons on the grounds of the Kaai corn mill. He gives an enthusiastic explanation of how it all works. The cannons are fired by the city’s Civic Guard, in full traditional costume. You must come to see and hear it.  

    Visit the booming canons
    kanongebulder lopend door de stad

  • Near the Lemster Gate you will also find De Kaai corn mill. The windmill stands on a bastion of the city walls, where it still grinds wheat into flour in the traditional and authentic manner. On Saturdays, the mill is open for viewing and flour sales. In the mill shop that is open on Saturday, home bakers will be delighted with the choice of flour types. You're bound to find something you like.  

    Visit the windmill
    molen de kaai in sloten

What you really shouldn’t miss in Sloten

Onioncity and Sipelsneon

When you walk into Sloten, you won't notice it right away... Actually, you have to take a sightseeing flight above the smallest Eleven Cities city to see that Sloten is a real onion city ('sipelstêd'). Sloten is built in the shape of an onion. 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.

dronefoto van sloten van boven

Be enchanted by Museum Sloten

Museum Sloten is located in the former town hall, which was built in 1759-1761. That beautiful historic location alone is worth a visit. The museum offers a surprising look at the city's history. You can view the council chamber and you will learn, among other things, why Sloten is also called the onion city. There is also a real 'magic attic' in the museum. You simply must have been there once. Experience the magic of magic lanterns and dioramas.

Visit the museum
voorkant museum sloten

Corn mill de Kaai

One of the places of interest in Sloten is the De Kaai corn mill. This mill has been grinding the corn into flour since 1775 and still – with sufficient wind – corn is milled. The flour is also for sale. This way you can enjoy the afterglow of your visit to beautiful Sloten at home or at your holiday address.

Visit the Corn mill
winkel korenmolen de kraai

Slotermeer

To the north of Sloten is the Slotermeer. You reach the Slotermeer from the center of the city via the Slotergat. The villages of Woudsend and Balk are also located on the Slotermeer. Woudsend can be reached from the Slotermeer via the Ee and Balk can be reached via the Luts. The Elfstedentocht crosses the Slotermeer twice.

Slotermeer bij zonsondergang

“ SLOTEN IS LOCATED IN THE ROLLING GAASTERLAND COUNTRYSIDE AND IS THE SMALLEST OF THE 11 FRISIAN CITIES. IT MAY BE A SMALL CITY BUT THERE'S CERTAINLY PLENTY TO DO! ”

Lynn, Belvilla.nl

Tourist Information Sloten

At the Tourist Information in Sloten you will always be personally attended by a 'local'. So ask them about everything you want to know about experiences in Southwest Friesland. Also pick up the free inspiration magazine and the inspiration newspaper full of events and stories.

Visit the Tourist Information
vvv en museum sloten

The event calendar of Sloten - Discover what to do in Sloten today and tomorrow

The city centre of Sloten on the map

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