Schiedam

What to see in Schiedam, the city of windmills and jenever

Schiedam is located right next to Rotterdam and is one of the easiest day trips to make by public transport. The city is famous for its historic windmills, jenever distilleries and attractive historic centre filled with canals and monumental buildings.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, Schiedam was one of the world’s major centres for jenever production. Today, much of this heritage can still be discovered in its museums, windmills and former distilleries, making the city a fascinating place to explore the industrial history of the Netherlands.

ℹ️ Quick Information
📍 Distance from Rotterdam	Approximately 6 km
🚆 By train	Approximately 5–10 minutes
🚇 By metro	Approximately 10 minutes
⏳ Recommended time	Half a day or a full day
🌾 Must-see attractions	Windmills, Jenever Museum, canals and historic centre
🥃 Famous for	Historic windmills and jenever production

History of Schiedam

Schiedam was granted city rights in 1275 and, thanks to its location along the River Schie, developed into an important commercial and industrial centre.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the city became internationally famous for the production of jenever, the traditional Dutch spirit. At its peak, hundreds of distilleries and malt houses operated in Schiedam, supported by more than 30 windmills used to process grain for the jenever industry. Several of these windmills still survive today and are among the tallest traditional windmills in the world.

What to see in Schiedam

Schiedam combines windmills, canals, museums and industrial heritage. Its historic centre is easy to explore on foot and offers some of the most interesting attractions near Rotterdam.

📍 What to See in Schiedam
🌾 Windmill Route	Schiedam is home to some of the tallest traditional windmills in the world. Exploring them is one of the essential experiences in the city.
🥃 Nationaal Jenevermuseum	Discover the history of jenever, the traditional Dutch spirit, and learn how it was produced in Schiedam for centuries.
🌾 Museummolen De Walvisch	A museum windmill where you can learn how grain was traditionally ground for the production of jenever.
🏛️ Historic Centre and Canals	Walk through the historic streets, bridges and canals that preserve the atmosphere of old Schiedam.
🎨 Stedelijk Museum Schiedam	A museum of modern and contemporary art housed in a historic building in the city centre.
⛪ Grote or Sint-Janskerk	The oldest church in Schiedam, built between the 14th and 16th centuries.
⛪ Basilica of Saint Liduina	An important church dedicated to Schiedam’s patron saint and a historic place of pilgrimage.
🏛️ De Korenbeurs:	A historic former grain exchange that reflects Schiedam’s commercial and distilling past.
🚤 Canal Cruise:	Explore Schiedam’s historic canals by whisper boat, passing its windmills, former warehouses and distilleries.

How to get to Schiedam from Rotterdam

Schiedam is located directly next to Rotterdam and has excellent train, metro and tram connections, making it one of the easiest day trips to take without a car.

By train

Frequent trains run from Rotterdam Centraal to Schiedam Centrum. The journey takes approximately 5–10 minutes, and the station is located close to the historic centre.

By metro

Metro lines A, B and C connect central Rotterdam with Schiedam Centrum in approximately 10–15 minutes.

By tram

You can also travel between Rotterdam and Schiedam by tram. Journey times vary depending on your departure point and the current service, so check the RET journey planner before travelling.

Schiedam Tourist Information

For current museum opening hours, distillery tours, events and other visitor information, you can visit the official Schiedam tourism website.

You can also download a map of Schiedam from our downloads section to help you explore the historic centre and follow the windmill route.

Is Schiedam worth visiting?

Yes. Schiedam is one of the most worthwhile day trips from Rotterdam for visitors looking for a smaller city with plenty of character. Its windmills, historic jenever distilleries, canals and old town offer a completely different experience from Rotterdam.

Its close proximity and excellent public transport connections also make it easy to visit in half a day or combine with other destinations around Rotterdam.

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