Klazienaveen started as a peat colony owned by Willem Albert Scholten.

In 1874, Willem Albert Scholten bought the 974 hectares (2,410 acres) Smeulveen to exploit the peat.

[3] In 1890, Scholten offered the skipper Jan Adde Hazewinkel a flag as the first person to transport the peat.

In 1903, Scholten's son Jan Evert renamed Smeulveen and the village Klazienaveen after his mother Klaassien Sluis.

[6] In 1921, the Purit factory opened and produces Norit (activated carbon).