Schiedam Things to Do

1 more image

This tall windmill named "De Walvisch" (Whale) is one of the most popular windmils, because it houses a great mill-shop. You can visit the mill-shop at Thursday & Friday from 10.00 - 17.00 hrs, and Saturday from 10.00 - 16.00 hrs. You can buy all kind of meal and other baking product, produced in the windmill.

The miller's name is Fred Prins.

You may be lucky when the tall windmill is working because of the many happy volonteers. The same people who helped to renovate the windmill after the great fire of 1996 together with some companies.

The name of Whale origanally derived from the whale-fissery of Greenland (1794) that had a flowering time then.

2 more images

Schiedam is world wide known for its windmills. These are the tallest ones ever built.

This tall one is the eldest one named "De Drie Koornbloemen",
or The Three Corn-flowers.
Built in 1770 ... for burning malt and corn.

This windmill has been used, too, for bakers, for mahogany, for rice, for stone ...

The last time the windmill has been renovated was in 1999, and the windmill still turns its wings several times a week.

The miller Rens Franken and his wife Cobie live here for free to keep the windmill running.

Going for a walk in Schiedam is like walking right into history of ages ago.

The view is adorable and I am sure you'll enjoy the very friendly sphere.

A walk along the canals is even more historic when walking to the 3 museums which are very close to each other and, close to the nice little center of Schiedam. It is funny to see the modern cars within the rustic canal picture ...

You can find the 3 museums here >>>

* Stedelijk Museum - Hoogstraat 112-114, Schiedam
* Jenever Museum - Lange Haven 74-76, Schiedam
* National Cooperatie Musem - Lange Haven 84, Schiedam

The Zakkendragershuisje is the guild house of the harbour workers responsible for carrying the goods. Its small belltower on the top makes it look like a church. The Zakkendragershuisje was built in 1725 an in use as such until the beginning of the 20th century.

1 more image

The main church of Schiedam was built from 1335 on, replacing a smaller building from the 13th century. Some alterations took place in the mid-15th century, especially after 1428 when a fire devastated a large part of the city. This included a new part in which later the city scale office moved in. Today, that part is used as parochial office, but still has the “Waag” (scale) titles.

The corn-exchange was built between 1787 and 1792 as a result of the growing gin industry in Schiedam. The façade of this building shows elements from baroque/rococo architecture as well as neoclassical elements. The Korenbeurs served as a corn exchange until 1918, in 1952 it was restored to have a new function. Today, the building is used by an interior designer.

4 more images

Once, over 20 windmills processed grain for the Gin production, but only five of them survive today. They are the world’s tallest classic windmills. The title became a little doubtful, when in 2006 a sixth windmill of classic style was finished in Schiedam. That one is taller than the other five, but does not process grain - it is used for energy production. The five old windmills are standing along the Noordvestgracht and the Nieuwe Haven:
-De Walvisch (Westvest 229) is the only one still in regular use as a grainmill. First built in 1794, it burnt down in 1996, but was restored afterwards. A shop with different windmill-related products is located in the mill.
-De Drie Koornbloemen (Vellevest 5) is the oldest among them. Erected in 1770, it is in functional status, but only working on special ocassions.
-De (Nieuwe) Palmboom (Noordvest 34) was first built in 1781, but it burnt down in 1899. In 1992, it was rebuilt, using a part of the old base. Since then, it is called the Nieuwe Palmboom. A windmill museum is now located in it
-De Noord (Noordvest 38) is the highest of them with a height of 33,3 meters. It was built in 1803 and restored in 1962. Like “De Drie Koornbloemen”, it is functional status but not working. Today, a restaurant is housed in the mill.
-De Vrijheid (Noordvest 40) was finished in 1785. This one is also functional, but only working on special ocassions.

Liduina was the daughter of a poor night-watchman. At the age of 14, she fell while she was ice-skating and broke a rib. While she was recovering from this accident, she became sick of multiple sklerosis and other illnesses, so that finally she had to spend most of her life in bed. It is said, that she helped or even healed sick people visiting her, just by talking to them and giving them courage. On March 14th 1890, she was delcared Saint by Pope Leo XIII. Saint Liduina is the patron saint of the ice-skaters.
The church dedicated to her is a neogothic building, erected between 1878 and 1881. It was declared a basilica in 1990 by Pope John Paul II. The full name of the church is Basiliek van de Heilige Liduina en Onze Lieve Vrouw Rozenkrans. Sometimes, it is just called Singelkerk.