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 well known for its jenever (gin), the historical center with its canals, and the tallest windmills of the world.
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 backlands had to be transhipped. A small city formed around the dam and its activities.
In the year 1275 Schiedam received its city rights from Aleida van Avesnes, sister of William II, count of Holland.
