dordrecht

Dordrecht

They say that for a good marriage, the woman must have a past and the man must have a future. The 'marriage' between the people of Dordrecht and their town is a shining example of this. Just as Marianne is the symbol of France, the patron saint who symbolizes Dordrecht, has a wonderful past. Locally Dordrecht is fondly referred to as 'Dordt'. When Dordt was given town rights in 1220 by Count Willem I, it became the first town of Holland. And thus began the 'marriage' between Dordt and its people. They have since been very happy together. In the past, Dordt's people inherited an appreciation for life which has given them complete confidence in working towards the future. When you take a stroll around this typical Dutchtown, it helps to be aware that Dordrecht was the most important and powerful town in Holland until well into the 16th century.Shortly afterwards, Amsterdam, proclaimed the legal capital of the Netherlands in 1814, took over this leading role.

It is perhaps a good idea to begin your visit of Dordrecht with THE GROOTHOOFD – (Large Head) – In front of you, stream the imposing rivers: the Merwede and the Oude Maas, which for centuries long have carried on and played an important role in the welfare of the country. Even today this is still the busiest river junction in the world. And despite all this activity, you still get a great feeling of peacefulness from the rivers. Standing on the friendly square the 'Groothoofd', you have one of the best views of Holland and the widest. And in spite of the modern ships, which keep moving on through these mighty rivers, it remains timeless and infinitely beautiful.