Smilde
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Smilde
| settlement_type = Town
| image_flag = Smilde vlag.svg
| image_shield = Smilde wapen.svg
| shield_size = 50
| other_name =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image_skyline = File:Koepeltsjerke, Smilde.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Church in Smilde
| image_map1 = Map NL - Midden-Drenthe - Smilde.png
| pushpin_map = Netherlands Drenthe#Netherlands
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the Netherlands
| coordinates = {{coord|52|56|55|N|6|26|54|E|region:NL|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Netherlands
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = Drenthe
| subdivision_type2 = Municipality
| subdivision_name2 = Midden-Drenthe
| elevation_footnotes = {{cite web |url = http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool |title = Postcodetool for 9422AA |language = nl |work = Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland |publisher = Het Waterschapshuis |access-date = 11 April 2022 }}
| elevation_m = 14
| elevation_min_m =
| elevation_max_m =
| area_total_km2 = 22.96
| area_land_km2 =
| area_water_km2 =
| established_title =
| established_date =
| population_footnotes = {{cite web |url=https://www.cbs.nl/-/media/_excel/2021/48/kwb-2021.xls |title=Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021 |website=Central Bureau of Statistics |access-date=11 April 2022}}
| population_total = 4,500
| population_as_of = 2021
| population_demonym =
| population_note =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_urban_km2 = auto
| timezone = CET
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = CEST
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| area_code_type = Dialing code
| area_code = 0592
}}
Smilde is a town in the Netherlands' northern province of Drenthe and lies about {{convert|10|km|sp=us}} southwest of the province capital of Assen. Smilde was a separate municipality until 1998, when it became a part of Middenveld. However, that name changed in 2000 and was renamed the municipality of Midden-Drenthe.{{Repertorium Nederlandse Gemeenten}}
History
The village was first mentioned in 1846 as Smilde. The etymology is unclear.{{cite web|url=https://etymologiebank.nl/trefwoord/smilde |title=Smilde - (geografische naam) |website=Etymologiebank |access-date=11 April 2022 |language=nl}} Smilde is a elongated canal village which developed around 1770. Between 1767 and 1780, the {{ill|Drentsche Hoofdvaart|nl}} was dug to excavate the peat in the area. The first settlement was called Kloosterveen and was later renamed to Smilde.{{cite book|url=https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/sten009monu07_01/sten009monu07_01_0026.php |title=Drouwenerveen |author=Ronald Stenvert |page=61 |year=2001 |location=Zwolle |publisher=Waanders |isbn=90 400 9454 3 |language=nl |access-date=10 April 2022}}
The Dutch Reformed church was built between 1780 and 1788 in Louis XVI style. It was restored in 1963. The former town hall was originally built as a villa in Renaissance Revival style and was named Villa Maria. In 1931, it became town hall.
Smilde was home to 1,675 people in 1840.{{cite web|url=https://www.plaatsengids.nl/smilde |title=Smilde |website=Plaatsengids |access-date=11 April 2022 |language=nl}} Smilde was an independent municipality until 1998 when it was merged into Midden-Drenthe.
Education
There are two primary schools, De Schutkampen and Prinses Margriet (Princess Margriet of the Netherlands).{{cite web|url=https://www.middendrenthe.nl/onderwijs/scholen|title=Scholen|language=nl|publisher=Midden-Drenthe|accessdate=2023-04-15}}
People from Smilde
- Jan Beijert (1928-2007), politician
- Jaap Berghuis (1945-2005), painter
- Carry van Bruggen-de Haan (1881–1932), writer
- Jacob Israël de Haan (1881–1924), anti-Zionist and ultra-Orthodox activist
- Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper (1890–2005), oldest person from the Netherlands, aged 115 at the time of her death
- Alwin Kloekhorst (b. 1978), Indo-Europeanist and Hittitologist at the University of Leiden
Gallery
File:Overzicht van de brug - Smilde - 20426765 - RCE.jpg|Draw bridge of Smilde
File:Tramweg 71 Smilde.jpg|House in Smilde
File:Vaartweg 5, Smilde.jpg|Villa in Smilde
File:Exterieur overzicht, voorgevel, rechter zijgevel - Smilde - 20322075 - RCE.jpg|Former town hall
References
{{reflist}}
{{commons category|position=left}}
{{Midden-Drenthe town}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Municipalities of the Netherlands disestablished in 1998
Category:Former municipalities of Drenthe
Category:Populated places in Drenthe
{{Drenthe-geo-stub}}