| Page Views: 1,468 Last Visit to Dordrecht: October, 2007 I Used To Live Here | Dordrecht, a beautiful historical island by Valeggua - last update: Nov 7, 2007 |
Dordrecht
I moved to Dordrecht in 2005.
Just 15 minutes away from the big modern city of Rotterdam, there's this nostalgic city Dordrecht. It's a spectacular location at a junction of three rivers.
And what do we find here? Historical architecture like Jugendstil buildings with Renaissance facades or imposing Dutch Classism.
Also beautiful nature and culture.
Thanks to its protected
townscape, its 1500 registered monuments and characteristic buildings Dordrecht lists eight
in the top 10 of monumental cities in the Netherlands!
The city centre
The city lies between two big rivers. The view from the rivers coming together (at the Groothoofd) has been popular with painters and poetry-writers for centuries.
In the city centre there are almost 1000 monuments wich reflects the Medival trade City. Culural history is a big element in the cities image and identity.
Dordrecht has got a lot of art and culture to offer. Many Art-galeries, Antiquarian booktrades, Ancient and curiosaw shops and Musea.
See my tips about places to visit.
Nature, the famous Biesbosch
The largest green attraction is the National Park De Biesbosch .
It is one of the largest tidal areas in Europe, where fresh water has a free rein. The system of rivers, creeks, willow groves and reeds can mainly be reached only with a canoe or a small motorboat.
You can experience pure silence walking around here. |
|  | History & monuments oldest city of Holland
Dordrecht is known for being the oldest city of Holland (don't be confused: Holland should be considered as only a part of the Netherlands, a province, the oldest city of the Netherlands is Nijmegen)
As early as 1220 Dordrecht was granted the privileges of a
town. Soon Dordrecht was to be the most powerful town in Holland which it would remain well into the 15th century.
Seven centuries of monuments
You can find architectural pearls between the Groothoofds-gate and the Big Church.
You can also find Holland’s oldest houses here: ’t Zeepaert as well as
House de Onbeschaamde and the Gulden Os. (all in the Wijnstreet)
The other streets in the city centre have lots to offer too, for instance the Berckepoort, or the oldcatholic
church or the Munt, all of them showpieces.
Other residential neigbourhoods outside the citycentre, like the 20th century Krispijn has its Mauve neighbourhood, while Crabbehof has its
castle.
All together: Dordrecht has about 900 national and 160 municipal monuments as well as another
400 characteristic buildings.
This number puts Dordrecht in eighth position in the top 10 of
Dutch monumental cities.
It's absolutely worth the visit! |
| | Big events Dordrecht organizes a lot events, with it's beautiful historical decor:
- Dordt in Stoom
The biggest steam event in Europe. For 3 days steam heritage crosses the water, rails and streets of Dordrecht.
- Dordt Monumenteel
Hundreds of monuments are exposed during these days. You get free acces to some of Dordrecht fondest monuments and musea. Very funny is the 'Silent Disco' at the museum garden (tip)
-World Jazz days
World and jazz music in the city
- Christmas Market, the biggest of the Netherlands
Do I need to say more.....
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| Pros: | "Lot of art and monuments, beautiful nature" | | In A Nutshell: | "Nostalgic, historical, beautiful" |
Valeggua's Dordrecht Travel Tips
| Overview | Things to Do
Tips: 7 - Photos: 6 | | | Restaurants
Tips: 1 - Photos: 2 | Hotels & Accommodations | | | Nightlife
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1 | Off The Beaten Path | | | | Tourist Traps | Warnings Or Dangers | | | | Transportation | Local Customs | | | | Packing Lists | Shopping | | | | Sports Travel | General Tips
Tips: 3 - Photos: 2 |
 Comments for Valeggua about Dordrecht | | | | |
breughel Fri Nov 2, 2007 13:21 UTC
Dag Valérie, Thank you for your kind comment on my Amsterdam page. On a next trip I will have to stop in Dordrecht. Groetjes. | Pavlik_NL Thu Nov 1, 2007 21:02 UTC
Have visited almost all Dutch towns, yet Dordrecht is still on my wishinglist. Thanks for taking me there in a brief yet complete moment. Groetjes, Paul |
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