Sloten
Sleat · Sloten vesting · Sloten haven
52°53.9'N 05°37.6'E
Depth
1.5–2m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
45m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
45m
45m on canal mud in 1.5–2.0m. Fully enclosed historic town canal. No tidal swing. The canal berths are limited — arrive early in summer. Maximum draught 1.5m; the outer approach channels from Slotermeer may be shallower.
About This Anchorage
Sloten (Frisian: Sleat) is the smallest walled city in the Netherlands — 750 people, a single main street (Voorstraat), and the most perfectly preserved small-scale star fortress in Friesland. The town received city rights in 1426. The 17th-century fortifications (walls, bastions, and moat) are completely intact and form a small circuit walk (20 minutes) that gives views across the entire flat Frisian landscape. The windmill (Nooit Gedacht, 1755, operational) is visible from the Slotermeer lake approach. The town's single café serves the local jenever (Dutch gin) and traditional Frisian koek (gingerbread). Entry to the town by boat through the Waterpoort is one of the most memorable moments in Dutch inland sailing — the ancient gate frames the canal perfectly. The Slotermeer lake (3km long, 1.5m deep) outside the walls is a quiet anchorage.
Protected From
N · NE · E · SE · S · SW · W · NW
Exposed To
None (fully sheltered)
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Mooring fee approx €10–14/night (honesty box system)
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Maximum draught 1.5m in approach from Slotermeer; canal mooring only in town; heritage fortification — no modifications; speed limit 6km/h in town canal; night quiet from 22:00; no anchoring in Slotermeer main channel (outside designated areas).
Hazards
- !Maximum draught 1.5m — approach channels from Slotermeer are very shallow in some areas; ANWB waterkaart compulsory
- !Limited berths — very small town; arrive before midday in peak season
- !No provisions in town — arrive with full stores
- !Night quiet required — the town is tiny and sound carries across the water
Skipper's Tips
- →Arriving at Sloten through the Waterpoort at low speed as the town opens up beyond the gate is one of the finest moments in Dutch inland sailing — the scale of the 17th-century fortifications dwarfs the small yacht perfectly
- →Walk the entire fortification wall circuit (20 minutes) — the views across the flat Frisian landscape and the Slotermeer from the ramparts are extraordinary
- →The windmill Nooit Gedacht (1755) is operational — open to visit on summer weekends; the miller grinds Frisian wheat
- →De Wijnberg café serves jenever (Dutch gin) from a traditional bar that has changed little since 1890 — the most authentic Frisian café experience
- →Sloten combines perfectly with Balk (5nm south) and Woudsend (8nm north) for the southern Frisian lakes circuit
Facilities
Sloten has one café (De Wijnberg) serving simple food, jenever, and Frisian koek. No supermarket — stock provisions before arriving; nearest is Balk (5km by water or bicycle).
Nearest provisions: Balk (5km south by water) (3nm)
Best Months & Season
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
May–September. Sloten is busy in July–August but the small size of the harbour means it never feels overwhelmed — the town's character is unchanged. May and June are best for the full fortification walk without crowds.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
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