We left just after 10, heading back to the Oude Maas river heading north towards Rotterdam.
We had a good 2 knots of tide with us until we turned left onto the Nieuwe Maas river where it ran against us at 2 knots, but we only had a couple of miles to run so it was no big deal.
On the Oude Maas we had a couple of big lifting bridges to deal with which were no problem as they lifted when we got to them. Probably something to do with the rather large barge up our arse!
Schiedam
Schiedam, a historic city within the Rotterdam metropolitan area, is home to a working port and a waterfront undergoing dynamic transformation. The port boasts a rich industrial heritage, with notable structures such as shipyards, former industrial facilities, and buildings once operated by companies like Gusto, Nolet Distillery, and Wilton-Fijenoord. Among these is the old Wilton-Fijenoord villa, a historic waterfront property originally built for company board meetings.
Rather than preserving these sites solely for their historical value, the City of Schiedam has embraced a forward-thinking strategy: repurposing old buildings and infrastructure for contemporary use. This approach is particularly bold given Schiedam’s proximity to the vastly larger Port of Rotterdam and the development of Maasvlakte II, which once posed a threat to the city’s economic vitality by drawing away businesses and talent.
Yet Schiedam’s close ties to Rotterdam’s urban centre, along with its unique character and amenities, have helped attract a new wave of innovative engineering firms. As a result, the once-declining port is now experiencing a revival. Historic facilities are being revitalised and adapted for modern industry, breathing new life into the area. This resurgence has not only supported economic growth but has also enabled the preservation of significant buildings, including the villa, ensuring that Schiedam’s heritage continues to play a role in its future.
When we arrived at Schiedam we had a lock and a lifting bridge to negotiate. Once through these we had to wait for three hours as we had arrived at lunchtime on Saturday. We were going to turn left but we were advised by the nice lock man who spoke perfect English to continue on to the town. This involved a further 4 VERY small lifting bridges. Kath reckoned that we only had a foot either side of our rigging on a couple of them! I’m not sure that was correct but do admit it was tight!
Unfortunately for you deep fin boys it might be a bit tight as the depth went down to 2.1 meters at the shallowest.
Well what can I say but wow!
When we arrived there was a very small secure marina and we had to back into our spot. Our mast, which is taller than the windmill platform, came very close to touching it. And yes that is our mast in the video!
This place is delightful. It has all the facilities we need and although we are in a suburb of Rotterdam, it still feels like a small town. It is famous for having the tallest windmills in the world and for a very potent Gin, 45% apparently. Guess I’ll have to buy my Dad some!
There is a big Albert Heijn on the doorstep and plenty of shops and restaurants. There is no internet but you can’t have everything. We are so taken with the place that we are going to stay here whilst Paul returns to the UK.
Now we need to talk about the price. It costs 8€ per night inc electric, water, very respectable clean showers and loos. Eat your heart out south coast boys! The funny thing was, when the lock keeper was telling us about the cost before we entered the bridges, he was almost apologetic about it!
The neighbours are also very nice, but whether they stay here whilst Paul goes home remains to be seen. Going to do a bit more sightseeing tomorrow and try and find some kind of soft play place for Lucy if we can.