The Silent Mist of Freisland: Sloten

Sloten (known as Sleat in West Frisian) is a remarkably preserved historic fortified town located in the southwest of Friesland, Netherlands. It is famous for being the smallest of the eleven traditional Frisian cities, with a tight, layout that has barely changed since the Middle Ages. Because its compact, rounded defensive ramparts resemble the shape of an onion, Sloten is affectionately nicknamed the Sipelstêd ("onion city"). Today, the town draws visitors for its scenic beauty and rich maritime heritage, featuring beautiful historic canal-side homes, two surviving 18th- and 19th-century water gates, and the iconic De Kaai flour windmill. To this day, local traditions remain alive; during the summer season, the city crier and town guard still gather every Friday evening to blast a historic cannon on the mill yard.