Schiedam

Build in 1862, restored in 2007 and listed as a national monument. Now mainly used as a cultural centre, focussing on early music but also on literature and film.

Built 1779-1782, replacing the original orphanage from 1605.

The oldest windmill (1770) still existing in Schiedam.

Heavily damaged by fire in 1901, restored between 1991–1993.

Built in 1785.

Built in 1794, restored after a devastating fire in 1996. The windmill houses a museum (as part of the jenevermuseum) and an artisan mill store which sells mill flower and other baking products produced at windmill De Vrijheid. The museum part shows you how grain is processed to jenever and let you learn more about the history of the mills in Schiedam. Enjoy the view from the gallery. Please note that you must climb some (steep) stairs.

Built in 1803. With a height of 33.3 m, the tallest windmill in the world. In use as a restaurant.

Built in 2011, rebuilt from the original mill from 1715, which stood a few metres from the current windmill.

Built in 2006 by the Nolet Distillery. It is a wind turbine which resembles a traditional windmill. It has a tower height of 43 m and a gross height of 55 m including the rotor tips.

Windpump built in 1710 to keep the surrounding polder dry. Restored in 2012. There is a mini-polder which you must keep dry by using the mill wheel and sluices. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Housed since 1940 in one of the town’s finest listed monuments: the former Sint-Jacobs hospital. On 14 May 2022 Stedelijk Museum Schiedam reopened its doors after a renovation. Spread over 12 rooms, the museum focuses on Dutch fine arts after 1945. Pride of place among the exhibits goes to the extensive CoBrA collection of over 250 works. The museum organises a host of activities and exhibitions for young and old. It also has its own café and shop. Won the Dutch public award for most public friendly museum in 2019.

Jenevermuseum Schiedam is located on one of central Schiedam‘s most evocative canalside streets. The museum tantalises visitors by recounting the fruity tale of the Netherlands‘ national tipple and other spirits from both inside and outside the country. The Jenevermuseum Schiedam is no ordinary museum: it offers a sensory experience in which visitors, on their own or in the capable hands of a guide, get to smell, hear, see, touch and of course, taste all aspects of the distiller‘s world.

The entrance to the National Co-operative Museum looks exactly like an original local ‘shop on the corner‘ with all kinds of sweets from a bygone age. At the back of the shop there is a small living room accurately depicting how workers lived in around 1920. The top floors of the museum are home to a wealth of information about the co-operative ideal. The archives are still added to regularly though private donations. The museum‘s volunteers are happy to take visitors on guided tours and explain the old product packaging, works of art, black and white photos and utensils displayed in the exhibition.

The windmill De Walvisch houses a museum (as part of the jenevermuseum) and an artisan mill store which sells mill flower and other baking products produced at windmill De Vrijheid. The museum part shows you how grain is processed to jenever and let you learn more about the history of the mills in Schiedam. Enjoy the view from the gallery. Please note that you must climb some (steep) stairs.

De Plantage was designed by Arij van Bol'es, a city architect from Schiedam and laid out in 1767. It is the oldest city park of The Netherlands. In the 19th century redone by Jan David Zocher a famous Dutch Landscape architect.

This park is the only park in Schiedam listed as a monument. Today it is almost in the exact state as it was designed in 1914. The pond was crucial for the water management during development of the neighborhood of West, which was reclaimed from the low lying polder from 1907. Included in the park is an artificial hill with pavilion, a remembrance tree planted in 1947, a liberation monument from 1949 and a resistance monument from 2020. In December, the park is the decor for Winterlicht, a light art festival.

Largest park in Schiedam offering something for everyone: walking and biking trails, dedicated BBQ area, fishing spots, a large smoke-free island with a playground (Fort Drakensteijn), petting zoo, calisthenics, public toilets, restaurant (Parckhoeve) and a wildlife garden. Build in the fifties as compensation for the loss of green in the south of Schiedam due to construction of the harbor (Wilhelminahaven). Large renovation works started in 2012 to make it more accessible, safer and more appealing. Car parking at Parkweg or Prinses Beatrixlaan/Schiedamseweg, but these can be full during training/competitions at the sport facilities nearby and/or with beautiful weather. It is advisable to walk or cycle to the park. Public transport: Metro or tram: Parkweg or Schiedam Nieuwland.

See the city from a different side in an open electric boat. Tickets are available online or can be bought at the departure point at Westvest 229. Free rain poncho's will be provided in case of rain. The website claims that the guide only provide commentary in Dutch. Printed information is available in English, German and French. Tip: take the 11.30 tour, this is a longer tour (1h20m instead of 1h). You will see 6 of the 7 windmills, instead of just 3.

This playground on the edge of Schiedam-Noord lies in the polder which means there are many ditches to cross, even with a pull raft. There is a lot of water, tree logs and ropes to play with.

It's an iconic pottery in the middle of Schiedam where you can try to shape some clay on the wheel, an amazing experience! You need to book a workshop in advance, and there is sometimes a long waiting list, but it's worth trying to book one.

Conveniently located next to the railway station Schiedam Centrum. Entrance is just north of the station, across a pedestrian bridge over the river Schie. Most foreign language films will have Dutch subtitles.

Local movie theatre with a cozy atmosphere. Housed in a former distillery (one of the youngest in Schiedam). The website is in Dutch, current movies are directly visible on the homepage and can be reserved from there (English option available).

On this national event, many monumental buildings can be visited for free, which are otherwise closed to the public.

Annual festivities commemorating Jenever production in Schiedam. In 2023 there will be no festivities due to the foundation's board leaving and no new board stepping in. There might be alternative events supported by the city.

Every year in December, the Julianapark is transformed in a fairylike event with (interactive) light art, music and fire acts. Foods and drinks available for purchase.