De Schie

De Schie is listed here as a waterfront district of Venlo, on the Maas river, and it is best understood as part of the city's riverside. The word schie, in Dutch, is used for a narrow waterway or canal, and the name is used in several places in the Netherlands, so the details of the particular spot in Venlo are not well documented. What can be said confidently concerns the setting: Venlo is a city on the Maas, in the north of Limburg, close to the German border, and its relationship with the river has shaped its history and its present layout.

Venlo was a trading town on the river from the Middle Ages, and it was a fortress city with ramparts and a moat, with a position on routes between the Rhine, the Maas and the North Sea. The harbour area and the riverfront were once busy with barges and warehouses, and in the twentieth century they were joined by industrial uses, especially when the city grew as a centre of trade and horticulture. In recent decades, the riverfront has been redeveloped, with a wide promenade, cafes, restaurants, shops and public spaces replacing older industrial structures, and it is now one of the pleasantest parts of the city for a walk. Some historic warehouses survive and have been converted to new uses, giving an example of the re-use of industrial heritage.

A walk along the Maas gives a good view of the river life. Barges and pleasure boats pass, anglers stand along the banks, and the broad river, which is a main route of inland shipping, gives a sense of space. The paved paths are suitable for walking and cycling, and in summer the terraces are busy. The area often hosts events and markets, which add to the atmosphere. The riverfront is easily reached from the city centre and the main railway station, and public access is free.

The city has other attractions close by. The Sint-Martinuskerk, St. Martin's Church, is the main church, the Vrijthof is a historic square, and the Venlo City Walls and Museum De Schatkamer show the city's past. The Limburgs Museum covers the history of the province, Beatrixpark offers green space, and the Floriade horticultural expo of 2012 left behind a large site to the north. Venlo is a short train ride from Roermond and a short distance from the German town of Kaldenkirchen.

The riverside suits walkers, cyclists and those who like a meal with a view. Allow an hour, and combine it with the old centre.