| Smilde | |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| 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: | 52.9486°N 6.4483°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Netherlands |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Drenthe |
| Subdivision Type2: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name2: | Midden-Drenthe |
| Elevation Footnotes: | [1] |
| Elevation M: | 14 |
| Area Total Km2: | 22.96 |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Total: | 4,500 |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| 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 |
| Area Code Type: | Dialing code |
| Area Code: | 0592 |
Smilde is a town in the Netherlands' northern province of Drenthe and lies about 10km (10miles) 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.
The village was first mentioned in 1846 as Smilde. The etymology is unclear.[3] Smilde is a elongated canal village which developed around 1770. Between 1767 and 1780, the was dug to excavate the peat in the area. The first settlement was called Kloosterveen and was later renamed to Smilde.[4]
The Dutch Reformed church was built between 1780 and 1788 in Louis XVI style. It was restored in 1963.[4] 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.[4]
Smilde was home to 1,675 people in 1840.[5] Smilde was an independent municipality until 1998 when it was merged into Midden-Drenthe.[5]
There are two primary schools, De Schutkampen and Prinses Margriet (Princess Margriet of the Netherlands).[6]