Slochteren

Slochteren
Villageand former municipality
Fraeylemaborgin Slochteren
Flag Coat of arms
Location in Groningen
Coordinates:53°13′N6°48′E
Country	Netherlands
Province	Groningen
Municipality	Midden-Groningen
Area
• Total	16.86 km2(6.51 sq mi)
Elevation	−1 m (−3 ft)
Population (2021)
• Total	2,140
• Density	130/km2(330/sq mi)
Demonym	Slochtenaar
Time zone	UTC+1(CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2(CEST)
Postcode	9621
Area code	0598

Slochteren(Dutch pronunciation:[ˈslɔxtərə(n)]) is avillageand former municipality with a population of 15,546 in the province ofGroningenin the northeast of theNetherlands.On 1 January 2018, Slochteren merged withHoogezand-SappemeerandMenterwolde,forming the municipalityMidden-Groningen.

The former municipality can be characterized as a chain of small villages dividing a mostly agricultural landscape. Having an agricultural background for at least a thousand years, the community houses for the most part commuters to nearby towns likeHoogezand,GroningenandDelfzijl.ThemansionFraeylemaborg(a small 'castle', the oldest parts of which are dated in the Middle Ages) is located in Slochteren.

Geography

The population centres in the former municipality are:

• Denemarken
• Froombosch
• Harkstede
• Hellum
• Kolham
• Lageland
• Luddeweer
• Overschild
• Schaaphok
• Scharmer
• Schildwolde
• Siddeburen
• Slochteren
• Steendam
• Tjuchem
• Woudbloem

Topographic map of the municipality of Slochteren, June 2015

Natural gas field

Slochteren is in the center of thegiantGroningen gas field,discovered in 1959, ensuring the position of the Netherlands as a major energy exporting country. The estimated gas reserves in 2009 was 2,700 km³(650 cu mi).

Gallery

• 
  Protestant Church
• 
  Former courthouse of Slochteren
• 
  Town hall
• 
  Former post office

External links

• Media related toSlochterenat Wikimedia Commons