Things to Do in Schiedam – Top Attractions Near Rotterdam
Historic windmills, canals, museums and the world-famous souvenir shop
Discover Schiedam: the hidden gem next to Rotterdam
Schiedam is one of the most atmospheric historic cities in the Netherlands, only a few minutes from Rotterdam. The city is known for its exceptionally tall historic windmills, its famous gin and jenever history, beautiful canals, old warehouses and charming city centre.
If you are wondering what to do in Schiedam, this visitor guide gives you a practical route through the city. Walk past the windmills, explore museums, enjoy historic streets and discover authentic Dutch gifts and souvenirs along the way.
In this guide you will discover:
- The tallest historic windmills in the world
- The most beautiful sights in Schiedam
- Museums, art and the famous jenever history
- Historic canals, harbours and walking routes
- Restaurants, cafés and terraces
- Shopping in the historic city centre
- Authentic Dutch souvenirs, Delft Blue and Royal Delft
- Practical tips for parking, public transport and visiting from Rotterdam
Whether you are planning a day trip, a city walk or a stop during your visit to the Netherlands, Schiedam is a compact and surprisingly rich destination full of history, culture and Dutch character.
A local tip: Visitors often speak about the canals of Schiedam, but locals traditionally call these waterways harbours. In this guide we use both words, so the route is clear for visitors and recognisable for people from Schiedam.
View the walking route on Google Maps
View the route past the main sights of Schiedam. The walk starts at Molen De Noord and runs via Lange Haven, the museums, churches, Hoogstraat, and Appelmarkt to the Grote Markt.
1. The tallest historic windmills in the world
Our walk starts at the famous historic windmills of Schiedam. You can see them from far away, rising above the old city centre. Their height is not a coincidence: in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries Schiedam was a major centre for jenever production, and the mills had to catch enough wind above the warehouses and distilleries.
Several restored windmills still remind visitors of this industrial past, including De Noord, De Vrijheid, De Drie Koornbloemen, De Palmboom and De Walvisch. Together they create one of the most distinctive skylines in the Netherlands.
Take your time along the quays. The windmills, water, old bridges and historic warehouses make this one of the most photogenic places in South Holland.
Continue the walk
From the windmills we walk towards the historic heart of Schiedam via the atmospheric Lange Haven, with old warehouses, bridges and waterside views.
2. The historic city centre
The historic city centre of Schiedam has narrow streets, old bridges, monumental buildings and a relaxed atmosphere. Although Rotterdam is very close, Schiedam feels quieter and more intimate.
Schiedam received city rights in 1275 and grew into an important trading and harbour town. The wealth of the jenever industry is still visible in merchant houses, warehouses and restored monuments.
The centre is compact, so most sights are within walking distance. This makes Schiedam ideal for a relaxed city walk with history, culture, food and shopping.
Continue the walk
The route now follows one of the most beautiful historic waterways of Schiedam: the Lange Haven.
3. Lange Haven
The Lange Haven is one of the most beautiful historic harbours in Schiedam. Monumental houses, old warehouses, bridges and reflections in the water create a classic Dutch city view.
This was once a busy trade area for grain, wood and other raw materials used by the distilleries. Today the area is loved for its history, galleries, small shops, restaurants and terraces.
Since 1999, the physical shop of Holland Souvenir Shop has been located in this historic setting. Visitors can find Delft Blue, Royal Delft, Amsterdam souvenirs, Rotterdam souvenirs, clogs, tulips and many other authentic Dutch gifts.
Continue the walk
Next we walk towards the National Jenever Museum, where the story of Schiedam as a jenever city comes to life.
4. National Jenever Museum Schiedam
The National Jenever Museum Schiedam explains why the city became famous as the jenever capital of the world. Inside a historic building you learn how grain, malt and herbs were turned into one of the Netherlands’ best-known spirits.
The museum includes a traditional malt wine distillery, historic equipment and stories about the families and entrepreneurs who shaped the city.
Why visit the Jenever Museum?
- Discover the history of Dutch jenever
- Visit a historic distillery
- See original distilling equipment
- Understand the link between windmills, warehouses and jenever
Continue the walk
After the jenever story, we continue to the Stedelijk Museum Schiedam for art, culture and city history.
5. Stedelijk Museum Schiedam
The Stedelijk Museum Schiedam shows a different side of the city. It combines modern and contemporary art with stories about Schiedam’s past.
The museum is housed in a beautiful historic building and regularly presents changing exhibitions, making every visit different.
Why visit?
- Modern and contemporary art
- Changing exhibitions throughout the year
- A historic museum building in the city centre
- Suitable for art lovers and families
6. The Grote or Sint-Janskerk
The Grote or Sint-Janskerk is one of the oldest and most impressive monuments in Schiedam. The late Gothic church has been a landmark in the historic centre for centuries.
Its high windows, brick architecture and quiet atmosphere make it worth seeing from the outside and, when open, from the inside as well.
Highlights:
- One of the oldest monuments in Schiedam
- Late Gothic architecture
- Historic details and stained glass
- Located in the heart of the city centre
7. The Liduinabasiliek
The Liduinabasiliek is dedicated to Saint Lidwina of Schiedam, the patron saint of the city. The basilica is an important religious monument and a notable example of neo-Gothic architecture.
Visitors come here for history, architecture, reflection and the story of Saint Lidwina, who made Schiedam a place of pilgrimage.
8. Shopping in Schiedam
The historic city centre offers a pleasant mix of local shops, boutiques, cafés, restaurants and speciality stores. Shopping in Schiedam feels relaxed because everything is close together and many shops are located in historic buildings.
If you are looking for a Dutch souvenir, the city centre is a natural place to find Delft Blue, clogs, tulips, Dutch sweets and other gifts connected to the Netherlands.
9. Appelmarkt
The Appelmarkt is a small historic square in the centre of Schiedam. It combines monuments, terraces, museums and characteristic shops.
Here you will also find the physical shop of Holland Souvenir Shop, known for Delft Blue, Royal Delft, hand-painted ceramics, wooden clogs, tulips, Dutch sweets and authentic souvenirs.
Opposite the shop is the National Cooperative Museum, a small museum about the cooperative movement in the Netherlands.
10. Restaurants & Terraces
After a walk through the city, Schiedam offers many places for coffee, lunch, drinks or dinner. Around the Grote Markt, Lange Haven and Hoogstraat you will find restaurants, cafés and terraces in a historic setting.
Opening hours and reservations can vary by season, so it is useful to check the latest information before your visit.
11. Practical information
Parking
Several parking garages and public parking areas are available around the historic centre. Most sights are only a short walk away.
Public transport
Schiedam is easy to reach by train, metro, tram and bus. From Schiedam Centrum station you can walk to the historic centre in about ten minutes.
Cycling
Schiedam is also easy to visit by bike, especially from Rotterdam and surrounding towns.
Accessibility
The centre is compact, but some old streets have cobblestones. Comfortable shoes are recommended.
Best time to visit
Schiedam is worth visiting throughout the year. Spring and summer are ideal for terraces, while autumn and winter give the historic streets a special atmosphere.
12. Taste Schiedam
No visit to Schiedam is complete without discovering the flavours connected to the city. Jenever, Dutch sweets, cheese, stroopwafels and other local products all fit the historic character of Schiedam.
Visit the Jenever Museum, enjoy a café or terrace, and take home a Dutch gift as a lasting memory of your visit.
Schiedam at a glance
Schiedam offers a compact combination of historic windmills, harbours, museums, churches, shopping streets, restaurants and authentic Dutch souvenirs. It is a perfect day trip from Rotterdam and a surprisingly rich destination for visitors to South Holland.
- Tall historic windmills
- Historic city centre with harbours and warehouses
- Jenever history and the National Jenever Museum
- Art and culture at Stedelijk Museum Schiedam
- Delft Blue, Royal Delft and Dutch gifts
- Only about 10 minutes from Rotterdam by train or metro