The structure of the title compound [Sm₂(crot)₆(H₂O)₄]₂-3(H₂O) (I), (crot= crotonate = butenoate = O₂CCHCHCH₃)] consists of two independent, centrosymmetric dimeric units, of similar composition but diverse coordination, viz., one of them doubly bridged (2×[η2:η1:μ2]) and the remaining one quadruply bridged (2×[η1:η1:μ2], 2×[η2:η1:μ2]). The asymmetric unit is completed by three solvato water molecules, one of them depleted (occupation: 0.735 (14)). The difference in bridging strengths is readily evidenced in the two quite dissimilar Sm⋯Sm distances observed: 4.1402 (8)Å (doubly bridged), 3.9439 (8)Å (quadruply bridged). SmO₉ polyhedra suyvey similar coordination distances which span the range 2.388 (3)-2.611 (3)Å for one of the Sm cations and 2.357 (3)-2.588 (3)Å for the other. All water hydrogens are involved in H-bonding, leading to the formation of a strongly linked 2D structure parallel to (010). These planar arrays are in turn transversally linked by one single bridging water molecule. There are in addition C=C⋯C=C π interactions providing both to intra as well as intra planar cohesion. The compound is isomorphous to its Gd isologue, but the present description unveils a number of molecular and supramolecular details not discussed therein.