The Lemster Gate of Sloten

Once they were no longer required, the Gates enclosing the fortified town of Sloten were demolished and disposed of. Luckily, the water gates managed to escape the wrecking ball. There are two of them in Sloten, namely: The Sneker or Woudsender Gate and the southern or Lemster Gate. If you sail into Sloten from Lemmer, the wonderful scene that greets you is the windmill together with the Lemster Gate, a vista often captured in photographs. There’s a pillory at the foot of the Lemster Gate. A reminder of the time that Sloten had its own jurisdiction and could pass convictions.

A ‘Trojan horse’ for Sloten

It’s 12 May 1588. Pier Lupckes from the neighbouring village of Tjerkgaast has a wicked plan to invade Sloten. But the city’s ramparts are not easy to penetrate. Together with the Spanish troops of Philip II, Lupckes thinks he has found a way to control the rebellious city. His plan is to exploit the idea of the Trojan Horse, by hiding Spanish soldiers in beer barrels. He finds two skippers from Grouw, Dotte Sibles and Stomme Jelmer, to execute his plan. In bad weather, the troops hidden in beer barrels, the barge goes over the Slotermeer towards the small city of Sloten. But at the last moment the plan leaks out and the ruse is discovered by an attentive city guard. He sounds the alarm. This is followed by a fierce and bloody battle between the brave City Gunners and the hostile Spaniards! Skipper Sibles manages to escape, but Pier Lupckes and Stomme Jelmer are captured and have to pay for their betrayal with death. They are publicly beheaded two weeks later, after which their heads are ‘exhibited’ on poles at the gate. This is to remind others not to dream up nefarious plans to attack Sloten. This infamous episode in Sloten is re-enacted every few years with the city as the backdrop during the spectacle known as the Historisch Kijkfeest.