History

Windmill de Walvisch is Schiedam’s museum windmill. After visiting the museum shop and windmill shop take the stairs to the panoramic attic and enjoy a wonderful view over the historic city centre.

The current Windmill De Noord was built in 1803. The first mention of a windmill being located here was at the beginning of the 15 th century. It is presumed that a wooden windmill was built here around 1400.

This stone tower windmill was built in 1770. It is the oldest of the distillery windmills in Schiedam. It is the only windmill with a real miller’s house. The interior décor is largely authentic. The house was restored in 1999.

The tower windmill, De Vrijheid, was built in 1785 and restored in 1972/74. The windmill is one of the largest in the world. It’s still in daily use milling products for bakeries and distilleries (gin distilleries).

This towering windmill, De Palmboom, was built in 1781. Standing 30 metres tall, this windmill is one of the tallest in the world.

Nolet Distillery has been in Schiedam since 1691. They built a new tower windmill. This does not mill grain. Instead it generates electricity. It is expected to generate 250,000 kWh per year.

Between 1715 and 1868 windmill De Kameel was close to this square and it was part of some 20 tower windmills. These windmills were used to mill grain for the Schiedam gin industry, which was massive at that time.

The current Babbersmolen was built in 1710 to replace a wooden windmill. The polder windmill was used to drain the Babberspolder. As far as we know, the Babbersmolen is the oldest surviving stone polder windmill in the Netherlands.

De Waag (the Weighing House) in Schiedam is located next to the oldest building in the city: Grote- of Sint Janskerk.

Appelmarktbrug is one of the three cast iron drawbridges in Schiedam built around 1860. When a boat sails through the harbour, two bridge watchers raise the bridge by hand.

De Korenbeurs is a beautiful listed building. It was built in 1787 under the leadership of the Italian architect, Carlo Giovanni Francesco Giudici (1746 – 1819).

The Town Hall was rebuilt after a fire in 1604. It was done in a rich Renaissance style with ornamental work and sculptures including Late-Gothic and Renaissance elements.

The Zakkendragershuisje is one of the most characteristic buildings of Schiedam. It used to be the Guildhall (Gildehuis) of the porters’ guild.

The property at 56 Lange Haven is a former distillery. It is now called ‘De Bonte Koe’. The walls of the building have been left in a rugged state and you can still see the barrels in the floor. The air is now scented with chocolate instead of yeast.

The Locomotiefsteeg is a 50 meters long walkable art object and takes you from the oldest dike in Schiedam (Hoogstraat) tot the water from the Lange Haven. The art object consists of over 1100 tiles engraved with Schiedam jenever brands.

Mr Bokel built a dam in the Schie at the Oude Sluis (Old Lock), probably around 1230. From there a ‘settlement’ grew around the Dam on the Schie. Aleide van Avesnes (Aleida) granted Schiedam city rights in 1275. To this day, the monuments and museums of Schiedam tell the story of the city.

The Liduina Basiliek is a Neo-Gothic building designed by the architect E.J. Margry. It was built between 1878 and 1881. In 1990 the church was designated as a basilica.

Lidwina is one of the most important women in the history of Schiedam. She is the only North Dutch female saint, and is one of the most famous saints in the Netherlands. Her remains are in the Lidwina Basilica.

The Liduina Basiliek is a Neo-Gothic building designed by the architect E.J. Margry. It was built between 1878 and 1881. In 1990 the church was designated as a basilica.

The Grote of Sint Janskerk (St. John’s Church) is one of the oldest buildings in Schiedam. This three-aisled hall church was built around 1335. This was the site of a smaller church in 1262.