Sleen: Church, Tower and Mill History

If you like to choose where to stay based on architectural and village history, Sleen offers several points of interest. The Hervormde Kerk, its tower, De Hoop mill and the Historic Village Walk introduce the village through different buildings and periods. You can distinguish between church architecture, mill history and a walk along historic streets and monuments.

Church and Tower

The Hervormde Kerk in Sleen, also known as the Grote Kerk, is a three-aisled hall church dating from the 15th century. “Three-aisled” describes the division of the church interior into three aisles. Both the church and its tower are designated Rijksmonumenten (national heritage sites). This makes it possible to consider the building’s form, date and heritage designation as distinct characteristics.

The tower also underwent a precisely datable change: in 1923, its lantern crown was replaced with a spire. That year, the church tower was the tallest in Drenthe. The dates tell different chapters of the story: the 15th century places the church in context; 1923 marks the change to the tower’s top and its rank in height at the time. Those interested in architectural development can distinguish the older building form from a later, precisely dated change.

De Hoop and the History of the Mill

At De Hoop, the focus shifts from church architecture to mill history. The mill was rebuilt in Sleen in 1914, using the De Gunst mill from Amersfoort, also known as the Nefkens mill, which had been demolished in 1913. De Hoop thus connects its reconstruction in Sleen with the earlier history of a mill from Amersfoort. Unlike the church, whose construction dates back to the 15th century, the rebuilding described here took place in the early 20th century.

A 2025 report described De Hoop as a grain mill that continued to grind grain; Baker Schepers used the flour, among other things, to make bread. The mill’s history therefore includes both its reconstruction and the processing of grain—two aspects that link the mill’s construction with its use.

Village Walk and Rural Architecture

The Historic Village Walk in Sleen passes historic sights, picturesque streets and monuments that tell the village’s story. As a guide for planning, the walk is described as approximately two kilometres long and taking about two hours. Distance and time are two separate planning considerations: around two kilometres of walking and about two hours. Check the latest arrangements before your trip if you plan to take the walk.

Sleen is an esdorp, a village built around a communal arable field, with Saxon farmhouses, and is part of the Cultuurpad Coevorden: Noord-Sleen–Sleen. The farmhouses broaden the view beyond individual monuments to the village’s rural architecture. The church, tower and De Hoop can be considered as individual buildings, each with its own history; the village walk, in contrast, passes along various streets and monuments. If you are looking for a hotel in Sleen, these different points of interest can help you tailor your trip to your interest in village and architectural history.

Discover more destinations: Noord-Sleen, Gees, Dalerpeel, Benneveld, Meppen, Zweeloo, Schoonoord, Wezuperbrug

For the broader travel overview: Coevorden.