Schiedamseweg Shopping Street, Rotterdam

The Schiedamseweg stands as a renowned shopping boulevard located within the Delfshaven district of Rotterdam. Stretching from the historic Aelbrechtskolk in Delfshaven to the bustling Marconiplein, the Schiedamseweg is a significant part of the Schielands Hoge Zeedijk, encompassing its course from Marconiplein up to the municipal border of Schiedam, affectionately referred to as Rotterdamsedijk.

Built in 1910, the Schiedamseweg connected Delfshaven and Schiedam, replacing the narrow Mathenesserdijk route. This broad boulevard was carefully planned as the main axis in the Bospolder/Tussendijken area. Structures on the east side feature Neo-Renaissance style, while those past Spanjaardstraat on the west have a simpler design. The Schiedamseweg's development was completed by the late 1920s.

Tragedy struck Rotterdam-West on March 31, 1943, when the area fell victim to the Rotterdam-West bombing. This catastrophic event led to the devastation of the western portion of the Schiedamseweg. The aftermath of the bombing resulted in a staggering loss of approximately 400 lives and rendered 16,000 individuals homeless. However, the neighborhood experienced a rebirth during the 1950s, with reconstruction efforts taking place. Even in 2007, the remnants of the fire boundary at Wattierstraat remained distinctly visible.

In the 1980s, a significant development unfolded beneath the Schiedamseweg: the construction of the Calandlijn tunnel, connecting Coolhaven and Marconiplein. This endeavor led to the closure of the Schiedamseweg for an extended period due to the tunnel's construction. The method employed for this project involved a shell tunnel design, with the tunnel floor being assembled on-site while tunnel roof segments were prefabricated and transported from elsewhere.