Schiedam is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. It is part of the Rotterdam metropolitan area. It is known because of its historical center with its canals, and the tallest old windmills in the world. Schiedam is also known for jenever (gin) – such as the internationally-renowned Ketel One – so much so that in English the word schiedam (usually without a capital s-) refers to the town’s Holland gin. 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. The picture is where it all started in 1250.