Sleen


Sleen is a village in Drenthe, Netherlands of about 2500 people. Sleen has been inhabited for centuries. Much ancient history can be found in the area, particularly in the forests. At birth and during the Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden. Sleen became the capital of one of the six “dingspels” of Drenthe. When Drenthe was recognised as a province, Sleen became a municipality capital, before it merged into the municipality of Coevorden.
Sleen has a 450-year-old church. At about 56 meters, it is the highest church in the entire province. Nowadays, it functions as a Dutch Reformed Church. There is also another Protestant church in the village.
Nowadays, Sleen has its own supermarket, library, fish stand, cafés, a few other shops, hair salons, petrol station, sports park, horse riding school, houses for the elderly, and other facilities.
There are also two schools: CBS “de Fontein” and OBS “de Akker”.
“De Brink” is the “centre” and the old part of the village, with some historic houses and a brick road. This is also where the two churches are, and other facilities like the former municipal centre. New houses were constructed over time, and an area known as “de nieuwbouw” is where the most recently constructed houses can be found.
The famous Pieterpad goes straight through Sleen. The windmill De Hoop has been restored to working order.