Sloten: Discover the town’s history and culture

When planning a trip to Sloten, it is worth considering whether you are most interested in the town’s history, museum themes or seasonal events. In Sloten, historic buildings and urban features sit alongside a museum, events and a seasonal boat trip. Planning your days around specific interests makes it easy to distinguish fixed attractions from time-specific activities.

Townscape and fortifications

Sloten’s original town ramparts are almost completely intact. The historic urban layout and the canal, with the wide quays of Het Diep, are also well preserved. Together, the fortifications, waterway and quays shape different aspects of the historic townscape. The Lemsterwaterpoort was built in 1581 as part of Sloten’s fortifications. A pillory stands at the foot of the Lemsterpoort; a small prison cell was located between the water and land entrances of the Lemsterpoort.

Church and windmill

The Grutte Tsjerke was built in 1647 on the site of the former Sint-Janskapel. Its well-preserved interior dates from the mid-17th century and includes a baptismal enclosure, pews and pulpit. The organ dates from 1786. This makes it possible to distinguish the dates of the building and its furnishings: the church building dates back to the 1647 reconstruction, while the organ provides a later point of reference.

De Kaai is an octagonal gallery windmill on a bastion of Sloten’s fortifications. The mill shop offers a range of products, including wholemeal wheat flour, wheat flour and pancake flour. The type of mill, its location on the bastion and the flours on offer provide different points of interest for a visit.

Museum and art

The Sloten Museum is in the centre of Sloten. There, you can explore the world of magic lanterns. In the attic, the museum presents three historical themes: water as friend and foe, Frisian identity, and administration and the administration of justice in free Friesland and its towns. The themes range from the relationship with water to historical social and legal systems.

Kievit is Sloten’s artwork in the 11Fountains series. It depicts a man carrying a girl on his shoulders as she carefully holds a bird. Below them are containers through which water flows. This specific image differs from the museum’s historical themes and adds another cultural point of interest in Sloten.

Walks and tours

The 11Fountains Sloten Route is a town walk and part of the Elfstedentocht Route. The 11Fountains Sloten Walking Route starts at TOP Sloten on Haverkamp, 8556 AC. Another kind of tour is the Mini-Elfstedentocht by car or motorcycle: it starts in Sloten, but can also be started at any other point along the route. Check the route details before your trip.

Seasonal activities and dates

During the high season, every Friday evening the Sloten town militia fires the Sloten cannon on the grounds of the Korenmolen De Kaai. Town crier Wiebrand van der Land provides explanations; dates may vary. The Historisch Kijkfeest Sloten includes stalls featuring traditional crafts at the Kleine Haven, although the programme may vary with each edition. The historic play “Slag om Sloten”, performed in Sloten every three years, is also associated with the Historisch Kijkfeest Sloten. Sipelsneon takes place every year on the last Saturday in June; event dates may also vary.

The visitor offering also includes a seasonal boat trip through the town and on the Slotermeer. Before your trip, check the dates of the programme events and the current sailing times so you can include these time-specific activities in your plans.

For the overview of the wider destination: Gaasterlân-Sleat.