Smilde is a town in the Netherlands' northern province of Drenthe and lies about 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) 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.[3]
History
The village was first mentioned in 1846 as Smilde. The etymology is unclear.[4] Smilde is a elongated canal village which developed around 1770. Between 1767 and 1780, the Drentsche Hoofdvaart [nl] was dug to excavate the peat in the area. The first settlement was called Kloosterveen and was later renamed to Smilde.[5]
The Dutch Reformed church was built between 1780 and 1788 in Louis XVI style. It was restored in 1963.[5] 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.[5]
Smilde was home to 1,675 people in 1840.[6] Smilde was an independent municipality until 1998 when it was merged into Midden-Drenthe.[6]
