Schiedam is a city and municipality in the Dutch province of
South Holland. The municipal council participates in the joint
scheme Metropolitan Region Rotterdam-The Hague.
Schiedam is
located between Rotterdam and Vlaardingen, originally on the Schie
and later also on the Nieuwe Maas. As of August 1, 2020, the
municipality had 79,003 inhabitants (source: CBS). The city is known
worldwide for its gin production, the historic city center with
historic harbors (in other Dutch cities these would be called
'canals') and the highest windmills in the world.
Founding and Medieval Origins (c. 1230–1400s)
Schiedam was
founded around 1230 when the Lord of Wassenaer and Amtlord Dirk
Bokel dammed the River Schie to protect existing polder land from
North Sea seawater incursions. The dam (hence the name “Schiedam,”
meaning “dam on the Schie”) created a strategic transshipment point
for goods heading to inland towns like Delft, Leiden, and Haarlem. A
small settlement quickly grew around this hub of trade in fish and
grain.
In 1247, Lady Adelaide (Aleida) of Holland received the
eastern part of the dam and adjacent polder as dowry upon marrying
John I, Count of Hainaut. In 1275, she granted Schiedam town
privileges (city rights) as sister to the reigning Count of Holland,
William II. She also ordered the construction of Te Riviere Castle
(also known as Huis te Riviere or Slot Mathenesse) near the Schie.
Remnants of its donjon still stand today in the city center near the
town hall—a tangible link to this early period.
The young town
faced early competition: in 1340, Rotterdam and Delft gained their
own connections to the Schie and Meuse rivers, diverting some trade.
Despite this, Schiedam prospered through herring fishing and local
commerce. A major setback came in 1428 with a devastating fire that
destroyed large parts of the then-wooden town, but it was rebuilt.
The Age of Pilgrimage and Early Distilling (15th–17th Centuries)
From the 15th century, Schiedam became a significant pilgrimage site
thanks to Saint Lidwina (Lydwina of Schiedam, 1380–1433), one of the
Netherlands’ most famous saints and a mystic known for her extreme
suffering. As a teenager, she suffered a debilitating ice-skating
accident that left her bedridden and in chronic pain for decades;
she reportedly lived on little more than the Eucharist and
experienced visions. Her grave became a place of miracles, and a
chapel was built over it by 1434. Her relics remain in Schiedam’s
Basilica of St. Lidwina and Our Lady of the Rosary; she is venerated
as patron of the chronically ill and ice skaters.
Distilling also
took root early. In 1575, the world’s first known commercial
distillery opened in Schiedam, laying the groundwork for its later
fame. Herring fishing and cloth manufacturing remained important,
but the foundations for an industrial boom were being set.
Golden Age: The Jenever Boom and “Black Nazareth” (18th–19th
Centuries)
Schiedam’s true “Golden Age” arrived in the 18th
century—not the 17th like much of the Dutch Republic—centered on
jenever production. When imports of French spirits halted, local
distilleries exploded in number. By the late 18th and 19th
centuries, nearly 400 roasting houses, malt houses, and distilleries
operated, exporting millions of gallons of jenever worldwide
annually. Grain arrived easily via the port, and the spirit (made
from malt wine flavored with juniper berries) became synonymous with
the city—sometimes even called “Schiedam” in French and English.
This industrial surge earned Schiedam the nickname “Zwart Nazareth”
(Black Nazareth) due to the thick black smoke and pollution from
coal-powered distilleries that blanketed the city in a gritty haze
during the early Industrial Revolution. To power production, over 30
(and at peak nearly 50) windmills were built—the tallest traditional
windmills in the world, some reaching up to 33 meters. They were
deliberately constructed high to catch wind above the tall
warehouses and distilleries. Five originals survive today: De Noord,
De Walvisch, De Drie Koornbloemen, De Nieuwe Palmboom, and De
Vrijheid. Many historic storehouses and factory buildings remain as
relics.
Shipbuilding, Modernization, and 20th-Century Changes
As jenever production declined in the late 19th century,
shipbuilding boomed. Companies like Wilton-Fijenoord turned Schiedam
into a major shipyard hub through much of the 20th century. In 1941,
the neighboring municipalities of Kethel en Spaland were merged into
Schiedam, enabling northward residential expansion.
The city was
not heavily damaged in World War II (unlike central Rotterdam),
preserving much of its historic core. However, two notable rail
disasters occurred near Schiedam Centrum station: the Netherlands’
first major train accident in 1856 (3 deaths) and the 1976 disaster
(24 deaths). In 1976, the city also saw the “Schiedam riots”
(Turkenrellen), sparked by an incident involving Dutch and Turkish
youths, highlighting tensions during a period of immigration and
urban change.
By the late 20th century, shipbuilding largely
vanished, and Schiedam transitioned into a modern commuter town
within the Rotterdam–The Hague metro area, with diverse
manufacturing, services, and a strong cultural heritage focus.
Old town hall (Schiedam)
Schiedam's Old Town Hall is located
on the Grote Markt. The building, built in 1538, was rebuilt in 1606
after a fire (1604), and provided with the current gables in 1637.
The double staircase dates from 1717-1718. In 1782 it was modernized
by the then city architect Rutger van Bol'es. The last meeting of
the city council was held here in January 1973. Nowadays there is a
restaurant in one part of the town hall, the other part is used for
weddings, meetings and representative purposes.
Prof. Mr.
Pieter van Vollenhoven opened the restored Town Hall on October 22,
2004, a restoration that took a year and a half and was made
possible by a Kanjers subsidy from the National Agency for the
Preservation of Monuments. During the restoration of the old town
hall, both the interior and the exterior were discussed. The
paintwork, the ceilings and the furnishing of various rooms have
been overhauled. The exterior facade has also been restored and the
turret restored.
Grote or St. Janskerk
Seven scaffolding mills: the "six
classic mills" (Mill De Walvisch, Mill De Drie Koornbloemen, Mill De
Vrijheid, Mill De Noord, Mill De Palmboom, Mill De Kameel) and the
new "energy mill" De Nolet (2006); the mills shown in the picture
are the tallest classic mills in the world
The ruin of Huis te
Riviere
St. Liduina Basilica with Sacred Heart statue
The
canals of Schiedam (called "harbors": Lange Haven, Korte Haven and
Nieuwe Haven)
Babbersmolen (stone house mill 1710-1888) Stelling
mill (1888-1924) Stelling mill (2014 - Present)
Bag carrier house
Korenbeurs
Former Sint-Jacobs hospital, now the Stedelijk Museum
Schiedam
Office building for the then HAV Bank by architect Dudok
from 1935, converted into apartments in 1997
Saint John the
Baptist Church (Harbor Church)
Historical cityscapes
Location and Regional Context
Schiedam lies at approximately
51°55′N 4°24′E (more precisely around 51.917°N, 4.400°E), just west of
Rotterdam, east of Vlaardingen, and south of Delft and the municipality
of Midden-Delfland. To the south, it is bounded by the Nieuwe Maas (New
Meuse) river, with a connection to the village of Pernis via the Benelux
tunnel. This positioning places it in the western part of South Holland,
a highly urbanized and industrialized region that forms part of Europe’s
busiest port complex (the Port of Rotterdam). The city is enclosed on
three sides by neighboring municipalities and the river, creating a
tightly constrained urban footprint amid the broader deltaic plain.
In the wider Dutch context, Schiedam sits within the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt
delta, where sediment deposits from major European rivers have created
the flat, fertile (yet flood-prone) lowlands that define much of the
western Netherlands.
Topography, Elevation, and Area
The
terrain is almost entirely flat, with an average elevation of −1 m (−3.3
ft) relative to sea level—typical of Dutch polder land. Local variations
are minimal (rarely more than a few decimeters), except for engineered
features like dikes, canals, and the historic windmill bases. The total
municipal area is 19.86 km² (7.67 sq mi), of which 17.82 km² is land and
2.04 km² is water. Population density exceeds 4,400 people per km²,
reflecting the efficient use of limited, low-lying space in one of the
world’s most densely settled regions.
The landscape consists of
reclaimed polder soils—primarily marine clays and peaty deposits common
in the Western Netherlands peat-meadow district. These soils are soft,
sedimentary, and prone to subsidence when drained, necessitating
continuous water management. The city’s founding around 1230 was
directly tied to this topography: a dam was built on the Schie river by
the Lord of Wassenaer and Amtlord Dirk Bokel to protect existing
polderland from North Sea incursions, enabling settlement and trade.
Hydrology: Rivers, Canals, and Water Management
Water defines
Schiedam’s geography more than any other feature. The city straddles the
confluence of the Schie (now dammed) and the Nieuwe Maas, a major
northern distributary of the Rhine that serves as its southern boundary
and provides river-port access. The historic center is crisscrossed by a
network of canals that once facilitated trade in grain, fish, and later
jenever (Dutch gin). These canals, combined with the tall windmills
(some of the world’s tallest traditional examples, built high to clear
surrounding warehouses), remain iconic elements of the urban landscape.
The broader area features the classic Dutch polder system: drainage
ditches, dikes, and pumps maintain groundwater levels to prevent
flooding and subsidence. The original dam on the Schie not only
protected farmland but also created a transshipment point that spurred
medieval growth. Today, the Nieuwe Maas integrates Schiedam into the
massive Port of Rotterdam complex, while the Benelux tunnel and nearby
motorways (such as the A20) overlay the low-lying delta terrain.
Climate
Schiedam has a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb),
strongly moderated by the nearby North Sea. Average annual temperature
is about 10.8 °C (51.5 °F), with mild winters (January highs around 5–6
°C / 41–43 °F, lows near 2–3 °C / 36–37 °F) and cool summers (July highs
around 20–22 °C / 68–72 °F). Precipitation totals roughly 835 mm (32.9
in) per year, distributed evenly across months with no pronounced dry
season. Winds are frequent and can be strong, especially in winter—an
advantage historically harnessed by the city’s windmills for milling
grain used in distilleries. Extreme temperatures are rare (rarely below
−6 °C / 21 °F or above 28 °C / 82 °F).
Administrative and Urban
Geography: Districts and Land Use
Schiedam is divided into nine
districts that reflect its growth from a medieval river town into a
modern urban area:
Centrum (historic core with canals and
windmills)
Oost (East)
Gorzen (South)
West
Nieuwland,
Groenoord, Kethel, Woudhoek, and Spaland/Sveaparken (more recent
residential and mixed-use expansions)
Land use is predominantly
urban and industrial, with the historic center preserving green
canalside spaces and windmill parks. Surrounding polders to the north
(toward Midden-Delfland) retain more open, agricultural character, while
the port-oriented south integrates with heavy industry and shipping. The
combination of dense built environment, waterways, and heritage features
makes Schiedam a living example of Dutch urban geography: compact,
water-integrated, and resilient.
Schiedam is largely located within the Ring Rotterdam. This makes the
city easily accessible via the exit on the A4 Schiedam-West and the
exits on the A20 Schiedam-Noord and Schiedam.
Schiedam has a combined
train and metro station, Schiedam Centrum station. From this station you
can travel by train with a direct connection to Almere, Amsterdam,
Dordrecht, The Hague, Lelystad, Rotterdam, Roosendaal and Vlissingen.
Schiedam can also be reached by metro. Schiedam Centrum station can be
reached with metro lines A, B and C from Rotterdam. With metro line C
you can also travel further along the Schiedam metro stations Parkweg,
Troelstralaan and Vijfsluizen in the direction of Hoogvliet and
Spijkenisse. After an opening on September 28, 2019, the Hoekse Lijn
started on September 30, 2019. Schiedam Nieuwland station was opened as
a metro of the Hoekse Lijn when it was put into use and is accessible by
metro lines A and B.
Schiedam also has a tram connection with
Rotterdam. Tram lines 21 (only during the day until approximately 7:00
PM) and 24 both serve the city centre, Schiedam Centrum station and
Schiedam-Noord.
Schiedam has approximately 35 schools for primary, secondary, special
education and senior secondary vocational education, including public,
Roman Catholic, Protestant, Reformed and Islamic schools. In neighboring
Rotterdam, there are various higher vocational education programs and
the Erasmus University Rotterdam.
The oldest secondary school is
the Stedelijk Gymnasium Schiedam with a history dating back to 1346. The
newest secondary school is Lyceum Schravenlant.
Schiedam traditionally had two hospitals: the Municipal Hospital and the Nolet Hospital, which merged in 1981 into the Schieland Hospital. The Vlietland Hospital was opened in 2008, a merger of the Schieland Hospital in Schiedam and the Holy Hospital in Vlaardingen. This hospital is located near the A20 and Schiedam Nieuwland station. On 29 June 2012, this hospital merged with the Fransiscus Gasthuis in Rotterdam.