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Voykit pocket guide · Netherlands
Schiedam
Give Schiedam one full day from Rotterdam or The Hague, or one night if you want the jenever museums and windmills without a rush.
Schiedam is a compact historic town on Rotterdam's metro, 5 minutes by train from Rotterdam Centraal and about 20 minutes by tram from the city centre. It is known for jenever (Dutch gin), six historic windmills in the centre — the tallest traditional windmills in the world — and a walkable old centre around the Lange Haven canal. Most travellers see it as a half-day or day trip from Rotterdam or The Hague; one night is enough if you want both the Jenevermuseum and the windmill museum.
- Country
- Netherlands
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (busy, can be hot), Dec–Feb (short days, some sights closed)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Cards dominate; some shops and cafés are card-only and a few supermarkets accept debit cards but not all credit cards, so carry both.
- Daily spend
- Budget €50–80 excl. bed · Mid €80–140 excl. bed · High €140+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- KPN, Vodafone and Odido run the networks; Lebara and Lyca sell cheap prepaid SIMs in supermarkets and at Schiphol.
- Emergency
- Police, fire and ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard continental two-pin; UK and US plugs need adapters.
- Tipping
- Café: Round up.; Restaurant: 5–10% for good service; tell the server the total when paying by card.; Taxi: Round up.; Hotel: Not expected.
- Water
- Tap water is among the best in Europe; restaurants may charge for it, so ask.
- Toilets
- Stations charge about €0.70–1; cafés expect you to buy something; free urinals (and a few public toilets) in city centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee in a café | €2.50–4 |
| Jenever tasting at a distillery or museum | €5–12 |
| Museum entry (Jenevermuseum, Stedelijk Museum) | €12.50 |
| Museummolen De Walvisch entry | €7.50 adults, €2.50 children 6–12, €5 ages 13–17 |
| Beer in a bar | €4–6 |
| Metro or tram ride within Schiedam | €2–4 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | €8–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- RTM · Rotterdam The Hague Airport
- About 10 km (6.2 mi) away; RET bus 33 towards Rotterdam, then metro or tram to Schiedam (at least one change).About 6.2 mi (10 km) away; RET bus 33 towards Rotterdam, then metro or tram to Schiedam (at least one change).
- AMS · Amsterdam Schiphol
- Direct NS intercity to Schiedam Centrum; one-way 2nd class about €13.60 (2023 fare, check 2026).
Typical fares
- Schiphol → Schiedam Centrum, NS intercity
- about €13.60 one way 2nd class (2023 fare), about 45–55 min
- Rotterdam Centraal → Schiedam Centrum, NS train
- about 5 min
- Rotterdam Centraal → Schiedam centre, RET tram 21/24
- about 20 min
- Watertaxi from the Rotterdam Centrum zone
- from about €7 adult, children under 13 half price
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The historic centre is small and best explored on foot; pedestrian signs point to Binnenstad and VVV. Bikes are fast and there are free guarded bike parks at Broersveld and Stadserf. RET metro lines A, B and C and trams 21 and 24 link Schiedam with Rotterdam; Parkweg metro station is about 30 m from three of the largest windmills.
See and do
Known for
- Jenever (Dutch gin) distilleries
- The tallest traditional windmills in the world
- Lange Haven canal and historic centre
- Stedelijk Museum Schiedam and its CoBrA collection
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Rotterdam | NS train from Schiedam Centrum to Rotterdam Centraal, about 5 min; or RET tram 21/24 from the centre, about 20 min | About 20–30 min |
| The Hague | Direct NS train from Schiedam Centrum, about 25–30 min | About 40 min |
| Delft | Direct NS train from Schiedam Centrum, about 20–25 min | About 35 min |
| Scheveningen | Train to The Hague, then tram or bus to the coast | About 1 h |
| Vlaardingen | RET metro A or B from Schiedam Centrum to Vlaardingen, about 10 min | About 20 min |
| Maassluis | RET metro A or B from Schiedam Centrum, about 25 min | About 35 min |
Sleep
- Historic centre (Binnenstad)
- Around the Lange Haven, Grote Markt and Museumkwartier; walkable to the windmills, museums and restaurants.
- Schiedam Centrum station area
- Best for a one-night stop with bags: train, metro and tram all meet here, 5 minutes on foot to the centre.
- Rotterdam or The Hague as a base
- Both are 5–20 minutes away by train or tram; many travellers sleep there and visit Schiedam as a day trip.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | HalloHAH-loh |
| Thank you | Dank je weldahnk yuh vel |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Pardonpar-DON |
| How much is it? | Hoeveel kost het?hoo-VAYL kost hut |
| Can I pay by card? | Kan ik met de kaart betalen?kan ik met duh kart buh-TAH-lun |
| Where is the toilet? | Waar is het toilet?vahr is hut twah-LET |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Firm handshake with eye contact; three cheek kisses among friends; avoid: Hugging new acquaintances
- Directness: Say what you mean; expect honest, blunt answers; avoid: Taking bluntness as rudeness
- Punctuality: Be on time; diaries plan weeks ahead; avoid: Dropping in unannounced
- Money: Split bills; pay your share; avoid: Showing off wealth
- Homes: Bring flowers or a small gift; congratulate everyone at a birthday; avoid: Expecting dinner if invited for coffee
Scams and watch-outs
- Cross tram rails at an angle by bike; wet rails are slippery.
- Lock your bike to a fixed object; bike theft is common in the Netherlands.
- Some historic buildings are private homes or workplaces — view from the street and respect residents' privacy.
- Parking signs marked 'vergunninghouders' mean permit holders only; use the signed P-route garages instead.
- Check opening hours before travelling: several museums and the basilica keep limited days.
Schiedam is a safe, low-crime Dutch town; the real risks are bikes and tram rails, pickpockets on busy metro and tram lines into Rotterdam, and dark unlit paths along the canals at night.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Schiedam yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Jenever (Dutch gin) distilleries
- The tallest traditional windmills in the world
- Lange Haven canal and historic centre
- Stedelijk Museum Schiedam and its CoBrA collection
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- City of Schiedam (official): www.schiedam.nl/
- I-Punt S'Dam tourist information: www.sdam.nl/uk/
- RET (Rotterdam public transport): www.ret.nl/en
- NS (Dutch Railways): www.ns.nl/en
- Windmills of Schiedam: www.deschiedamsemolens.nl
- Jenevermuseum Schiedam: www.jenevermuseum.nl/
- Stedelijk Museum Schiedam: www.stedelijkmuseumschiedam.nl/english/
- Wikivoyage: Schiedam, revision 5264511 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5264511
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Schiedam
Naar dit adres, alstublieft
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire and ambulance112
The US, UK, Canadian, Australian and Irish embassies are in The Hague, about 25–30 minutes by train; most countries also keep consulates in Rotterdam (check addresses).
I-Punt S'Dam tourist office: Lange Kerkstraat 39; closed Monday, Tue–Sun 11:00–16:00.I-Punt S'Dam tourist office: Lange Kerkstraat 39; closed Monday, Tue–Sun 11:00 AM–4:00 PM.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/schiedam). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.