Distillers Hotel brings life back to Schiedam distillery

Distillers Hotel, coffee bar STOOM and restaurant STOOK to open in 2026 

On the spot where Schiedam's gold was once distilled, a new destination is rising. In the former Dirkzwager distillery, a national monument dating from 1861 on the corner of Groenweegje and Noordvest, the Distillers Hotel will open in 2026: a boutique hotel with 31 rooms, coffee bar STOOM and restaurant STOOK. The 19th-century distillery is deeply rooted in Schiedam's gin history. After a century and a half of distilling, the imposing building is now preparing for a second life. With that, spirit is once again being blown in this historic piece of Schiedam. The first pile will be driven on Friday 20 June. Thus begins the story of a place where heritage, comfort and contemporary hospitality come together. "We are building a place where real living is going to happen," says initiator Dennis Boer. "From a crackling fresh fruit juice in the morning to a surprising dish with headbutt in the evening, from a drink at the bar to a blazing night. The Distillers Hotel will soon have plenty of life in the distillery.

Hotel, coffee bar and restaurant

The Distillers Hotel offers 31 rooms divided between the monument and a new building section at the heart of the complex. From intimate rooms under the beams to industrial family rooms with city views, all in a style that oozes raw luxury. Hotel guests, local residents and tourists start the day at STOOM, the coffee bar on the corner of the building. No buffet, but freshly prepared breakfasts from a small menu. Add that good cup of coffee and the relaxed atmosphere and people want to stay for lunch with seasonal produce from local suppliers. In the evening, STOOK opens its doors. The restaurant is situated in the old distillery. Between the historic stills and the old copper pipes, the kitchen serves creative classics from French and Dutch cuisine: affordable, accessible and tailored to the rhythm of the season.

"We are bringing together three worlds: hotel, coffee bar and restaurant, each with its own character but all under one roof," Says Farmer. "You start the day in the light of STOOM and end the evening in the warm glow of STOOK. Everything breathes history but feels fresh and new. That will be the strength of this place."

Concept: ARD / AtelierRuimdenkers, Visualisation Coffee bar STOOM (left) & Restaurant STOOK (right).

The story of 'Black Nazareth'

Anyone who soon steps into the Distillers Hotel will be stepping into Schiedam's history. In the 19th century, gin flowed here daily from the boilers of the Dirkzwager distillery, an imposing complex of brick and copper. After the renovation, that history is still tangible everywhere: copper pipes meander through the ceiling of the restaurant and in the middle of the room adorn the old ground barrels and stills in which Schiedam's gold was once made. "The whole interior of the distillery is still there. The old tools, the pipes, the boilers - even the coal is still there," says architect Gideon Peele of ARD / AtelierRuimDenkers. "You could easily turn this into offices or housing, but then you take the soul out of it. We didn't want that to happen." Even the façade of the new building, built of deep black brick, subtly alludes to Schiedam's sooty past, once affectionately called 'Black Nazareth'.

Schiedam in motion

The arrival of the Distillers Hotel marks a new phase in the development of the Dutch Distillers District. The former industrial area around the distillery will be redeveloped into a mixed urban district with space for creativity, greenery and meeting. With its central location and striking appearance, the hotel will be an anchor point in this area on the move. The Distillers Hotel is scheduled to open in 2026. Until then, great care is being taken to build a unique place that allows Schiedam's rich history to vibrate into the present.