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Schiedam

Coordinates: 51°54′42″N 04°23′58″E / 51.91167°N 4.39944°E / 51.91167; 4.39944
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Schiedam
Old City Hall
Old City Hall
Flag of Schiedam
Flag
Coat of arms of Schiedam
Coat of arms
Nickname: 
Brandersstad
Location of Schiedam within The Netherlands.
Location of Schiedam within The Netherlands.
CountryThe Netherlands
ProvinceSouth Holland
Government
 • MayorW.M. (Wilma) Verver-Aartsen (VVD)
Area
 • Total19.89 km2 (7.68 sq mi)
 • Land18.18 km2 (7.02 sq mi)
 • Water1.71 km2 (0.66 sq mi)
Population
 (2005)
 • Total75,111
 • Density3,768/km2 (9,760/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CETDST)
Postcode
3111 - 3125
Websitehttp://www.schiedam.nl
View on Schiedam with the The Porters' Guild House
Windmill in Schiedam

Schiedam is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands and is part of the Rotterdam metropolitan area. It is known for jenever (gin), its historical center with its canals, and the tallest old windmills in the world.

In English, the word schiedam (usually without a capital s-) refers to the town's Holland gin, some with internationally-renowned brand names like Ketel One.

History

Around the year 1250 the river Schie was dammed to protect the polderland from the seawater. The dam attracted trade activities because goods for and from the hinterland had to be transhipped. A small town developed around the dam and its activities.

In the year 1275 Schiedam received city rights from Aleida van Avesnes, sister of William II, count of Holland.

Geography

The city of Schiedam lies in South Holland, The Netherlands.
It is enclosed between Rotterdam (east), Vlaardingen (west) and the river Nieuwe Maas (south).

Demographics

Population

2004 - 75,619
2006 - 75,111

Museums

  • Het Stedelijk Museum (website)
  • Het Gedistilleerd Museum (website)
  • Het Borrelmuseum (in 't Spul on Hoogstraat)
  • Museummolen De Nieuwe Palmboom (website)
  • Nationaal Coöperatie Museum Schiedam / 't Winkeltje
  • Artmuseum T'Walvisch

Monuments

  • The old city hall (Het Oude stadhuis) (photo)
  • The canals of Schiedam
  • The Wheat Exchange (De Korenbeurs)
  • Church of Saint John (Sint Jan)
  • The ruins of the castle Huis te Riviere (photo)
  • Saint Lidwina basilica (photo)
  • De Plantage
  • The Porters' Guild House (Het Zakkendragershuisje)
  • Het Proveniershuis
  • The six historical windmills of Schiedam, the tallest in the world (website). The tallest of them, De Noord, is in use as a restaurant. (More information and location map).

Sport

Cricket is not the most popular sport in Schiedam[1], but it is more popular than in the most other Dutch cities. The most popular sport in Schiedam is soccer, but also field hockey is popular.

Known people from Schiedam

  • Dmitri van den Bersselaer (born 1968) - historian
  • Willem den Broeder (born 1951) - Surrealist Artist
  • Ton van Duinhoven - Classic and comic actor, best known for his creations of Mijnheer Jamin and Feyenoordsuppoost Van Crooswijk
  • Jan van Riebeeck - (1619–1677), colonial administrator and founder of Cape Town (South Africa). Van Riebeeck grew up in Schiedam, although he was born in Culemborg, Netherlands.

Events

  • De Brandersfeesten website
  • DOEK! website
  • The National Windmill Days (Nationale Molen- & Gemalen dag) website
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Schiedam.

51°54′42″N 04°23′58″E / 51.91167°N 4.39944°E / 51.91167; 4.39944

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