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 = <ref name="AHN">{{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 }}</ref> | elevation_m = 14 | elevation_min_m = | elevation_max_m = | area_footnotes = <ref name="stat"/> | area_total_km2 = 22.96 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | established_title = | established_date = | population_footnotes = <ref name="stat">{{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}}</ref> | 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 | postal_code = 9422<ref name="stat"/> | 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.<ref>{{Repertorium Nederlandse Gemeenten}}</ref>

== History == The village was first mentioned in 1846 as Smilde. The etymology is unclear.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://etymologiebank.nl/trefwoord/smilde |title=Smilde - (geografische naam) |website=Etymologiebank |access-date=11 April 2022 |language=nl}}</ref> Smilde is an 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.<ref name="monument">{{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}}</ref>

The Dutch Reformed church was built between 1780 and 1788 in Louis XVI style. It was restored in 1963.<ref name="monument"/> 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.<ref name="monument"/>

Smilde was home to 1,675 people in 1840.<ref name="plaats">{{cite web|url=https://www.plaatsengids.nl/smilde |title=Smilde |website=Plaatsengids |access-date=11 April 2022 |language=nl}}</ref> Smilde was an independent municipality until 1998 when it was merged into Midden-Drenthe.<ref name="plaats"/>

== Education == There are two primary schools, De Schutkampen and Prinses Margriet (Princess Margriet of the Netherlands).<ref name=Schoolist>{{cite web|url=https://www.middendrenthe.nl/onderwijs/scholen|title=Scholen|language=nl|publisher=Midden-Drenthe|access-date=2023-04-15}}</ref>

== 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 == <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 </gallery>

== References == {{reflist}}

Category:Municipalities of the Netherlands disestablished in 1998 Category:Former municipalities of Drenthe Category:Populated places in Drenthe Category:Midden-Drenthe