Sloten is one of the 11 cities of the province of Friesland, The Netherlands. And one of the medieval cities and destinations you have to visit within Friesland. Here you’ll discover the best things to do for when you’re spending one day in Sloten and surroundings, including best restaurants, best B&B’s and hotels in Sloten, Friesland, and directions to the one of the best cities of Friesland.
Last updated 11th of June 2022
The city of Sloten is the smallest city of Friesland with less than 1000 inhabitants. This Frisian city dates back to the 13th century when it had a strategic location between German area of Bentheim and the Frisian city of Stavoren. Sloten is built and designed by Menno van Coehoorn in the shape of an onion and is also called the ui-stad, or sipelstêd in Frisian. The Frisian name for Sloten is Sleat. So, are you curious what you can do when you have 24 hours to spend in Sloten, The Netherlands? Then you can discover one of the best tourist attractions and things to do in Friesland just below.
Keep in mind that when you visit Sloten during the winter, there is less to do in the city itself and nearby areas. Museums are closed unless you make an appointment, and so on. In my opinion, Sloten is always worth a visit, but it is possible that it won’t be a full day trip from Leeuwarden if you visit this Frisian city during the low season. Not all restaurants are open every day or as late as usually. But, no matter what time of the year you are planning on visiting Sloten, Friesland, this city is always one of the places you have to visit in The Netherlands.
Also, remember that Friesland and Sloten is not part of Holland and not everyone appreciates the switch of names. So if you’re looking for things to do in Holland then you can have a look at Noord-Holland and also at Zuid- Holland.
Best things to do in Sloten, The Netherlands, in one day
Best hotels and B&B’s in Sloten, Friesland
When you’re staying for a full 24 hours in Sloten, The Netherlands, it’s best if you book a B&B or Hotel for a night or so. This way you will get the most out of your stay in Sloten, Friesland, and its surroundings. Especially during summer weather it’s very easy to do extra activities in the area. So if you’re looking for a great hotel or B&B in the Frisian city of Sloten, in the province of Friesland The Netherlands, and its surroundings then you’ll find that here.
Hotel Stedswal: Check prices & availability
Herberg Boswijck: Check prices & availability
“t Griene Hemeltsje: Check prices & availability
Where to get the best breakfast in Sloten, Friesland?
When it comes to eating the best breakfast in Sloten, Friesland, it depends whether you already took advantage of the option at your accommodation or not. In the case you didn’t have breakfast yet, I would recommend you to go to the following place Bakkerswinkeltje ‘t Kruimeltje. This is one of the shops you can find in Sloten and my favourite. Why? Because it’s a bakery and they also sell Frisian delicacies. Get some fresh bread and get some toppings at the local supermarket. Your breakfast is ready! You can find the bakery of Sloten at Dubbelstraat 212.
Discover one of the top things to do in Sloten, The Netherlands
After breakfast it’s time to explore one of the 11-cities of Friesland, Sloten. And what better way to do that than by starting of with one of the must see places of Sloten, the Museum of Sloten.
Visiting the Museum of Sloten is one of the best activities for when you’re spending 24 hours in this medieval Frisian city in The Netherlands. The reason? In the museum of Sloten you’ll discover information about the city of Sloten, its history and more. With that information you’ll see Sloten through different eyes when you’re exploring the beautiful Frisian city. This way you discover why Sloten is a must see and must visit when you’re in Friesland.
If that doesn’t make this one of the best things to do in Sloten, The Netherlands, then I don’t know what will. The museum of Sloten is located inside the previous city hall of Sloten that was built between 1759 and 1761. You can also find the tourist office of Sloten, Friesland, in the museum. Or VVV how we call the organization in Dutch.
Heerenwal 48, 8556 XW Sloten
Walking tour through Sloten, Friesland
After getting to know the history of one of the best places to visit in The Netherlands, Sloten, it’s time to discover the smallest city of Friesland by foot. Here you will discover the most beautiful streets and special monuments of Sloten, The Netherlands. I find that this is the most important part of the one day itinerary to Sloten, Friesland. Exploring a city, no matter how small, and discovering hidden alleys feels always very adventurous.
As Sloten is very small it’s easy to explore the small Frisian city, so it’s not difficult to scrap this activity of your Friesland to do list. The streets of Voorstreek, Lindengracht and Heerenwal almost completely make the city centre of Sloten. When you walk to the end of the Lindengracht you will see a little bridge that you can cross, which will take you to a church with a tall tower.
When you cross the bridge you turn to the right and will walk in the direction of the cannons. This was part of the defence wall of Sloten centuries ago and is one of the places you have to see in Sloten, Friesland. As you walk through the streets at the end of the Dubbelsteeg you walk into the Schoolstraat and later into the Achterom. Here you will find a small church which looks adorable from the outside. Apparently the church is used to place children during church services in one of the other churches in Sloten.
Explore the mill of Sloten
What else is there to do in Sloten, Friesland? Well visiting the mill, or Molen De Kaai. Since 1384 Sloten was a very important trading town and it’s known that the this city in the province of Friesland already had a few mills back then. On a map from 1523 a mill was placed on the same location as the current mill. The current mill of Sloten, Friesland, dates back to 1755.
One of the best things that you can do when you have one day in Sloten, is to buy souvenirs from the shop that they have in the mill. You can find several freshly grained flour mixes for several products, such as for pancakes or typical Frisian goods and foods such as for Suikerbrood. One of the points of interest that Friesland has is the regional food. So when you’re visiting the mill of Sloten buy at least the following mixes as souvenirs to get a taste of the Frisian traditions and regional foods back home: Pancakes, Suikerbrood, kruidkoek and dümkes. Or as the volunteers of the mill what they would recommend you.
Opening times mill of Sloten
The mill is generally only opened on Saturday.
From January – March from 10:00 – 12:30
April – September from 13:00 – 17:00
October – December 10:00 – 12:30
The mill is run by volunteers, so sometimes the mill stays closed even though it’s Saturday. Have a look at their website for the dates. ‘Gesloten’ means closed and ‘open’ speaks for itself.
Go for a tasty lunch in Sloten
Sloten is a small Frisian city and home to only a few restaurants. I can highly recommend you to visit Restaurant De Zeven Wouden, as well restaurant De Mallemok.
Rent a boat in Sloten and discover the area
One of the things you have to do when you’re in Sloten is to rent a boat. One of the best activities and things you must do in The Netherlands is to discover my country by the water. You’ll get a whole different perspective and experience.
You often have to be at least 18 or 21 years old to rent a boat, and you need to carry a valid ID, when you rent these items in The Netherlands. You can sent them an email for more information which you can find at the bottom of their website.
Or rent a bike and explore the surroundings
At most hotels and accommodation places in the surroundings they offer rental bikes at an extra cost. But as the most nearby renting place is in the city of Balk at Mous Tweewielers and not in Sloten, that is the best option. I would rent a bike and cycle the following route in this area of Friesland: Sloten – Balk – Woudsend – Sloten. This way you’ll cycle around the Slotermeer and discover two other beautiful villages in Friesland. You can easily grab a bus to and from Balk when you’re renting and returning the bikes (check 9292.nl/en for the best public transportation routes).
Eat a great dinner at one of the best restaurants of Sloten
Brasserie De Mallemok is located nearby the harbour and one of the nicest restaurants of Sloten. There’s a big terrace outside and the staff is great. The menu is varied, so there’s something for everyone. The only downside is that the restaurant closes during low season. Another option is Restaurant Taveerne ‘t Bolwerk, this restaurant in Sloten is mostly opened from Thursday until Sunday.
Grab a bike from your hotel or go for a long walk and see the sunset at the Slotermeer
One of the best and biggest lakes of Friesland is the Slotermeer (meer = lake (in this case)). And what’s a better way to close off a succesful day of exploring and visiting Sloten and surroundings with witnessing a beautiful sunset in the Slotermeer. The lake is located nearby Sloten, but the only way to get there fast without a boat is via a small path. Cycle on the Lytse Jerden in the direction of Balk. They call the small beach area De Baaier, but before you are there you need to cross a barrier that is, together with the small road, on your right hand side. You will see a board that says De Baaier as well.
Go in there and that will be the fastest way to get from Sloten to the Slotermeer. It’s easy to see what the best of Friesland is: Water. All the lakes make a visit to Friesland so spectacular and calming. The tourism in Friesland isn’t that immense yet when compared to the Holland region, but people are slowly discovering the region. They are discovering all that Friesland has to offer, from villages to cities. And from national parks to islands. And I hope you will explore Friesland and its beauty as well. And if you’re following my articles and adventures, you’ll be most certainly alright.
Finish a spectacular day in Sloten with some drinks
At De Stadswaagh you have found the perfect local bar in Sloten to go for (evening) drinks. This is one of those famous Dutch ‘brown’ cafes that you’ve probably heard of. If you’re looking for a snack as well, they’ve got great fries! You will find locals and visitors mixed in this cafe, which matches the character of the place. This cafe is what we call ‘gezellig’!
How to get to Sloten, Friesland
From Leeuwarden: To get to Sloten from Leeuwarden you have to take the train from Leeuwarden in the direction of Den Haag Centraal. Get out at Heerenveen station. From here you should walk to the bus station that is near the pizzeria Domino’s near the train station. Take the bus in the direction of Balk, then you get out at Sloten. This will take you around 1 hour and 10 minutes. Always check 9292.nl for the current public transport schedules.
From Amsterdam: To get from Amsterdam to Sloten, Friesland, you have to transfer quite a few times. To keep it logical I would recommend you to check 9292.nl for the full schedules and then to decide which route you like best.
Extra tips for activities in Sloten
Every three years there’s a historical event/ play that takes place in Sloten. You’ll discover how the attack of the Spanish on Sloten took place on the 12th of May 1588. You will see hundreds of people dressed up in historical clothing. The last time this happened was at the 11th of June 2022, so unfortunately you have to wait another few years to experience it. But if you’re looking for special things to do and see in Friesland, then this is one of those things.
Every last Saturday of June there’s a big market in Sloten, called Sipelsneon. This refers to the fact that Sloten is also named Sipelstèd (onion city). So if you’re interested in visiting a big market that takes places in one of the most beautiful fortified cities of The Netherlands, then put this in your agenda.
During high season canons will fire at every Friday evening at the mill De Kaai and you will get an explanation by the town crier. A town crier used to make public announcements when there were no papers. He told the citizens about the announcements of the city council and talked about the current deals and offers. They didn’t tell the citizens about a war, but only about important local news about the government. Before and after an explanation musketeers will fire off the canons, while you will discover why canons were necessary in Sloten in 1588.
I hope you enjoyed this article on the things to do in Sloten, Friesland, in 24 hours. Are you interested in more places that you can visit in Friesland? Discover them here! Or what to think about bringing a visit to one of the Frisian Islands, or Wadden Islands in The Netherlands? Have a look at an itinerary and things to do on Ameland here. Are you more interested in stargazing in The Netherlands? Then this article is for you! Share this post!!
