Schiedam

Schiedam
Old city hall of Schiedam
Old city hall of Schiedam
Flag of Schiedam
Coat of arms of Schiedam
Nickname: 
Brandersstad
Highlighted position of Schiedam in a municipal map of South Holland
Location in South Holland
Coordinates: 51°55′N 4°24′E / 51.917°N 4.400°E / 51.917; 4.400
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceSouth Holland
Settledc. 1230
City rights1275
Government
 • BodyMunicipal council
 • MayorCor Lamers (CDA)
Area
 • Total
19.86 km2 (7.67 sq mi)
 • Land17.82 km2 (6.88 sq mi)
 • Water2.04 km2 (0.79 sq mi)
Elevation−1 m (−3 ft)
Population
 (January 2021)[4]
 • Total
79,279
 • Density4,449/km2 (11,520/sq mi)
DemonymSchiedammer
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode
3100–3125
Area code010
Websitewww.schiedam.nl
Dutch Topographic map of Schiedam, 2016
View of Schiedam with The Porters' Guild House
Windmill De Kameel in Schiedam

Schiedam (Dutch pronunciation: [sxiˈdɑm] ) is a large town and municipality in the west of the Netherlands. It is located in the Rotterdam–The Hague metropolitan area, west of the city Rotterdam, east of the town Vlaardingen and south of the city Delft. In the south, Schiedam is also connected to the village of Pernis via the Benelux tunnel.

The town is known for its historical center with canals, and for having the tallest windmills in the world.

Schiedam is also well known for the distilleries and malthouses and production of jenever, such as the internationally renowned Ketel One; in French and English, the word schiedam (usually without a capital s-) refers to the town's jenever. This was the town's main industry during the early Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th century, a period to which it owed its former nickname "Zwart Nazareth" ("Black Nazareth").

The town is also known for Saint Lidwina, one of the most famous Dutch saints, whose relics are located in the town’s basilica.

  1. ^ "Dhr. C.H.J. Lamers" [Mr. C.H.J. Lamers] (in Dutch). Gemeente Schiedam. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  2. ^ "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2020" [Key figures for neighbourhoods 2020]. StatLine (in Dutch). CBS. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Postcodetool for 3112DZ". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  4. ^ "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand" [Population growth; regions per month]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.