Coat of arms of Schiedam, the Netherlands

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 centre 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.