Schiedam between windmills, harbours and genever

Schiedam’s historic city centre features historic harbours and is known for the world’s tallest windmills. Genever, windmills and water offer different themes for a stay. If you’re looking for a hotel in Schiedam, you can start planning by deciding whether you want to focus on windmill history, genever, museums or waterside walks.

Understanding windmills and water

At the Museummolen De Walvisch, an audiovisual presentation featuring a moving 180-degree projection tells the story of Schiedam’s windmills. Visitors can also learn about the miller’s work and how Schiedam’s distillery windmills function. In the attic, they can grind their own grain: the windmill combines historical context with a hands-on activity to try.

The Babbersmolen focuses on something different. Its miniature polder system can be flooded and drained again using a water wheel and sluices. By comparison, De Walvisch focuses on milling and grain, while the Babbersmolen system offers a clear illustration of how water is managed in a polder.

Genever: history, production and aromas

The Nationaal Jenevermuseum tells the story of genever, Schiedam’s role as a genever city and the craft of distilling. Genever is still distilled at the museum. A tasting offers another way to explore: an expert explains the aromas of the drinks being sampled.

The historic Branderij De Gekroonde Brandersketel is also connected with production. It makes artisanal Old Schiedam-Moutweingenever according to a recipe from 1700. The museum, distillery and tasting each offer a different focus: the history of the drink, its production and the experience of its aromas.

Museums, church and park

Several art and history exhibitions are on display at the Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, which is housed in the former Sint Jacobs Gasthuis. The Nationaal Coöperatie Museum offers a different historical perspective, presenting the rise, heyday and decline of Dutch consumer cooperatives over a period of more than 150 years. A museum staff member offers a personal guided tour there, free of charge.

The Grote- or Sint Janskerk is the oldest building in Schiedam. Its 54-metre-high tower offers views of the city centre, the world’s tallest windmills and numerous monuments. Park de Plantage, the oldest city park in the Netherlands, adds another point of interest alongside the museums, windmills and historic buildings.

Routes and waterside walks

Whisper boat tours pass Schiedam’s tallest windmills, warehouses and distilleries in the historic city centre. If you prefer to get around by bike, there are various themed routes: “Schiedams Reuzenavontuur” connects the tallest windmills with pancakes, playgrounds and a flock of sheep. Another cycling route runs through the historic city centre and along the Maasboulevard. A route via Ketheldorp leads out of the city into nature and the wide-open landscape of Midden-Delfland.

The NS walking route “Schiedam Jeneverstad” passes through parks, meadows, ditches and canals, through Schiedam, and over harbours and an old railway line to the centre of Rotterdam. Schiedam is referred to as a genever city. The routes therefore differ in the landscapes and themes they cover: from the city centre and the Maasboulevard to paths through open countryside or further towards Rotterdam.

Schiedam harbour can be reached from Schiedam Centrum station by train, metro, tram and bus. There are three Watertaxi stops in the harbour in total; the Watertaxi connects Schiedam with Pernis, Heijplaat, the RDM Campus and the centre of Rotterdam. As stop arrangements may change, check the latest information before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Schiedam, Oegstgeest, Zoeterwoude, Giessenlanden, Goeree-Overflakkee, Capelle Aan Den Ijssel, Vlist, Noordwijkerhout.

For the overview of the wider region: South Holland.