This Dutch city has six remaining 18th-century windmills, the tallest in the world at 33m, and a rich history of jenever production along its historic canals.
Schiedam in South Holland lets you walk by windmills taller than most in the Netherlands, their sails turning above canals dug centuries ago. Malt warehouses from the 1700s stand near working distilleries where you might catch the earthy smell of fermenting grains. Visit the Jenevermuseum to handle copper distilling tools, climb De Walvisch windmill’s wooden stairs, or try juniper-flavored chocolates at De Bonte Koe shop. The 15th-century Basilica of Saint Lidwina keeps a glass shrine with the saint’s bones, while modern cargo cranes operate along the riverfront. Trains from Rotterdam Centraal reach Schiedam in five minutes, making it easy to sleep here after exploring nearby cities.
Historic Windmills and Their Role in Schiedam’s Skyline
Five windmills built between 1700 and 1800 rise over Schiedam, their height—over 33 meters—necessary to catch wind above malt warehouses. De Walvisch and De Noord still crush barley using original grindstones, and guides explain how workers moved sacks of grain up narrow ladders. These mills powered the town’s gin production during its peak, turning local barley into malt for distilleries. At Noordmolen, you can eat pea soup and rye bread in a dining room surrounded by milling equipment. Climb 179 steps to the top floor of De Vrijheid windmill for a clear view of the canal grid and Rotterdam’s skyline to the east.
Jenever Production and Distilleries
Schiedam became Europe’s gin capital by the 1800s, with distilleries using water from the Schie River and grains from nearby farms. The Jenevermuseum in a former factory demonstrates how workers mashed barley in wooden vats and distilled it in copper stills. During weekend workshops, you can mix juniper berries with malt wine to create your own gin blend. Ketel One Distillery runs tours explaining how their modern facility uses a 19th-century recipe, with a tasting session including citrus-infused varieties. Stop at De Bonte Koe on Hoogstraat to try chocolate bars filled with caramel and aged jenever.
Canals and Architecture in the Town Center
Cobbled streets along the Oude Haven canal lead past former warehouses with brick facades and pulley systems still attached to gables. Watch bridge operators crank open Hoofdbrug’s iron gates for boats heading toward Rotterdam’s harbors. Saint John’s Church on Broersvest displays a 1620 pipe organ and stone carvings of biblical scenes above its entrance. Join a 45-minute electric boat tour from Koepelbrug to float past the Wheat Exchange building’s columns and under low stone arches. After sunset, spot spotlights highlighting windmill sails and the basilica’s spire.
Art Collections and Local History
Stedelijk Museum Schiedam displays post-war paintings by Dutch artists like Karel Appel, with rotating exhibits on Rotterdam’s punk music scene in the 1980s. The Borrelmuseum near the train station has a collection of 1,200 jenever bottles, including flasks designed to fit inside coat pockets during Prohibition. At the Nationaal Coöperatie Museum, children can weigh candies on brass scales in a recreated 1920s grocery. Artipico Art Gallery hosts ceramic workshops in a circular grain silo, with monthly shows by artists working with recycled metals. Check the museum district’s event calendar for free printmaking demonstrations on weekends.
Festivals and Seasonal Activities
For three days each September, Brandersfeesten fills the canalside streets with gin tastings, barrel organ performances, and fried dough stalls. On National Windmill Day in May, volunteers dress in traditional costumes to demonstrate how to adjust mill sails using a winch system. Every Saturday, vendors at Lange Haven market sell aged cheeses, raw herring sandwiches, and bulbs for tulips or daffodils. From late November to January, an outdoor ice rink operates on Vismarkt square with heaters and mulled wine stands. Local bakeries serve spiced speculaas cookies during December’s evening light festival.
Transportation Options and Routes
Rotterdam The Hague Airport handles short European flights, but most visitors take trains from Schiphol Airport to Rotterdam Centraal, then transfer to Schiedam’s central station. Direct trains connect to Amsterdam in under an hour and Brussels in 90 minutes. Rent bikes from the shop next to Hoofdbrug to follow the Schie River trail toward Delft’s pottery workshops. Trams 21 and 24 stop at key locations like the Jenevermuseum and Vismarkt square every 10 minutes. For Kinderdijk’s windmills, take the seasonal ferry from Schiedam’s harbor—the 90-minute ride passes working cargo ships and riverside farms.
Exploring Beyond Schiedam
Rotterdam’s Markthal food market and Euromast observation tower sit six kilometers east, reachable by metro line A or a 30-minute bike ride through parks. In Delft, tour the 1653 factory where workers still hand-paint blue pottery using techniques from the city’s trading era. Trains to The Hague run every 15 minutes, letting you see Vermeer’s "Girl with a Pearl Earring" at Mauritshuis before lunch. Summer ferries from Schiedam’s dock sail to Hoek van Holland’s sandy beaches, where you can swim near retired lighthouse platforms. Walk through Vlaardingen’s fish auction hall on the way back, now converted into a maritime museum with model ships.
