It is located in the municipality of De Wolden, about 10 km northwest of Hoogeveen.

Around 1140, a double monastery of the Benedictines was founded in Ruinen, however they moved to De Wijk in 1325.

[5] The Dutch Reformed has been built in the 15th century replacing and reusing the monastery church of which dated from around 1140.

The spire has been renewed in 1660 after it had been damaged by a storm, and the crown was replaced in 1952.

[6] The windmill De Zaandplatte was rebuilt in 1964, and is open to the public.