Everything about Dordrecht totally explained
» This article is about the Dutch city. For the city in South Africa, see: Dordrecht, Eastern Cape.
(population 119,649 in 2004), or in English (and locally colloquially):
Dordt, is a city and municipality in the
Dutch province of
South Holland, the third largest city of the province. The municipality covers the entire Dordrecht Island, bordered by the rivers
Oude Maas,
Beneden Merwede,
Nieuwe Merwede,
Hollands Diep, and
Dordtsche Kil.
The name Dordrecht comes from
Thyre, the name of a river, and Middle Dutch
drecht "channel", meaning "Thure
river crossing". Some documentation speaks of the river actually being called Thuredrith. Inhabitants of Dordrecht are
Dordtenaren (singular:
Dordtenaar). Dordrecht is informally called
Dordt.
Partner cities of Dordrecht are:
During
Carnaval, Dordrecht is called
Ooi- en Ramsgat (Ewe's and Ram's hole), and its inhabitants are
Schapenkoppen (Sheepheads). Throughout the year, tourists can buy sheep related souvenirs. This name originates from an old folk story about tax evasion. Import of meat or cattle was taxed in the 17th century. Two men dressed up a sheep they'd bought outside the city walls, attempting to disguise it as a man. The sheep was uncovered because it bleated as the three men (two men and one sheep) passed through the city wall gate.
History
The city was formed along the Thure river, in the midst of peat swamps. This river was a branch of the river Dubbel and ran approximately near the current Bagijnhof. In 1049 the first reference to Dordrecht was made. Count Dirk IV was murdered that year near "
Thuredrech".
Dordrecht was granted
city rights by
William I, Count of Holland, in 1220, making it the oldest city in
Holland.
In 1253 a Latin school was founded in Dordrecht. It still exists today as the
Johan de Witt Gymnasium and is the oldest
gymnasium in the Netherlands. From 1600 to 1615
Gerhard Johann Vossius was
rector at this school.
On 17th April 1421, the
Saint Elisabeth's flood drowned large parts of southern Holland, causing Dordrecht to become an island. Over 100,000 people died in the flood.
Because of its strategic location the city developed into an important market city. It traded primarily in wine, wood, and cereals.
In 1572, representatives of all Dutch cities gathered in Dordrecht to declare their independence from
Spain and acknowledge
William of Orange as the leader of the fledgling Dutch state, marking the beginning of the
Eighty Years War.
In 1618/1619, an important church meeting took place, called the
Synod of Dordrecht, settling a theological dispute between the orthodox
Calvinists and the liberal
Arminians that had brought the country on the brink of civil war. The Arminians were defeated, resulting in the formulation of the
Dordrecht Confession of Faith.
From 1780 to 1787, Dordrecht was home to the
Patriots faction which intended to remove the hereditary
Stadtholder position held by the
House of Orange-Nassau. The Netherlands was after all a republic
de jure. Soon after, more cities followed and
William V fled from Holland. But his brother-in-law, King
Frederick William II of Prussia, came to the aid of William V and on 18 september 1787, Dordrecht capitulated to Prussian troops. The Patriots were defeated and Willem V was restored in his position as Stadtholder.
In the 18th century, the importance of Dordrecht began to wane, and
Rotterdam became the main city in the region. Yet throughout the centuries, Dordrecht held a key position in the defense of Holland. It hosted an army division well into the 20th century. During the
mobilization of August 1939, infantry and artillery were sent to Dordrecht to defend the island.
At the end of the
Second World War, during the winter of 1944-45, Dordrecht and its surroundings were in the middle between the opposing armies. The border between occupied and liberated regions ran along the
Hollands Diep.
In 1970, the municipality
Dubbeldam (then ca. 10,000 inhabitants) and the southern part of the municipality of
Sliedrecht were incorporated into Dordrecht, making Dordrecht Island one municipality.
Economy
The current economy of Dordrecht is based on ship building, wood industry, and steel industry. The city has the sixth largest sea port in the Netherlands. One of the largest employers on Dordrecht Island is
DuPont de Nemours (Nederland) B.V. It has 9 factories here with a workforce of 900 people.
Together with Zwijndrecht, Papendrecht, and Sliedrecht (the "
Drecht Cities"), Dordrecht is planning a new ambitious vision to revitalize the region's economy, moving from industry to more business services.
In development are the "Learning" and "Health" Business Parks. The Learning Park is intended to have 60,000 m² of space for educational institutions. In the Health Park, a wide range of health services will be located, with the Dordwijk Campus of the Albert Schweitzer Hospital as focal point. Other services include a blood bank, pharmacy, and mental health clinic.
Near the Health Park a new Sport Park will be built. A new large sport centre, the equivalent size of 3 soccer fields, is planned complete with gyms, skating rink, and a pool. Next to this Sport Park, a huge outdoor event terrain will be established.
Places of interest
river quay and Groothoofds Gate
Onze lieve vrouwe Kerk (Our dear lady's Church) or Grote Kerk (Big Church) with uncompleted leaning tower
canals
merchant houses
Train
Dordrecht is well connected to the Dutch railroad system, and has several international connections. The train system hosts:
Four trainlines
South-West direction Roosendaal-and further (including international to Belgium/France)
South-East direction Breda, Eindhoven
North-West direction Rotterdam, The Hague, Amsterdam
East direction Gorinchem, Geldermalsen
The four operating trainlines serve three railway stations within the city boundaries (Dordrecht, Dordrecht Zuid, Dordrecht Stadspolders).
Main connections
Frequent international trains to Antwerp and Brussels, Belgium
Frequent services within the Netherlands:
Detailed information available from the site of the Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Dutch Railways) (External Link
)
Arriva, the city bus company of Dordrecht, also serving Werkendam, and also operating the Kop van 't Land ferry on the way.
Fast Ferry:
Waterbus:
Famous people from Dordrecht
» See also
Beatrix the Rich (b. 1420/21?) - an orphan found after the St. Elizabeth's flood whose education was paid for by the city and who became ancestor of many people of Dordrecht.
Simon "the Danser" Simonszoon (1577-1611) - privateer and pirate
Gerhard Johann Vossius (1577-1649) - scholar and theologian
Jacob Cats (1577-1660) - stipendiary magistrate of Dordrecht and Grand Pensionary of Holland
Matthijs Balen (1611-1691) - writer, famous for Beschryving der Stad Dordrecht ("Description of City Dordrecht") from 1676
Aelbert Cuyp (1620-1691) - painter, famous for his landscapes
Cornelis de Witt (1623-1672) - statesman and brother of Johan de Witt
Johan de Witt (1625-1672) - Grand Pensionary and brother of Cornelis de Witt
Samuel Dirksz van Hoogstraten (1627-1678) - painter, poet, and composer
Arnold Houbraken (1660-1719) - painter and writer
François Valentijn (1666-1727) - dominie and writer, famous for Oud en Nieuw Oost-Indiën ("Old and New East-India"), a book about the history of the Dutch East India Company and the countries of the Far East
Aart Schouman (1710-1792) - painter and engraver
Johannes Immerzeel Jr. (1776-1841) - writer and poet
Jan Schouten (1786-1852) - master ship builder, freemason, and poet
Ary Scheffer (1795-1858) - painter
Simon van Gijn (1836-1922) - banker and collector, whose home is now a museum in Dordrecht
Cornélie van Zanten (1855-1946) - opera singer, author, and teacher
Karel Lotsy (1893-1959) - sport leader, especially of the Netherlands national football team
Marinus Vertregt (1897-1973) - astronomer
Peter Hurkos (1911-1988) - popular entertainer known for performing psychic feats
Kees Buddingh' (1918-1985) - poet and writer
Jan Eijkelboom (1926-2008) - journalist, poet, and writer
Willy Batenburg (1926-2000) - folk singer
Ad Scheepbouwer (1944) - chairman of the board of KPN
Honorary citizens of Dordrecht
Simon Marinus Hugo van Gijn (1848-1937), since 1926 - member of Second Chamber of Parliament
Dr. Theodoor Stoop
Top Naeff (1878-1953) - writer
Cees Buddingh', since 1978
Jan Eijkelboom, since 2001
Image gallery
Image:hofstraat.jpg|Hofstraat
Image:Dordrecht_Grote_Kerk_toren.jpg|Grote Kerk
Image:Dordrecht Groothoofdspoort2.jpg|Groothoofdspoort
Image:Building-hof10.jpg|Het Hof (The Court)
Image:Gebroeders de Witt voor de Centrale Bibliotheek.jpg|Statue of brothers 'de Witt' in front of the library
Image:Cityhalldordrecht.jpg|City Hall
Image:Pottenkade.jpg|Pottenkade next to the Grote Kerk
Image:Cyckoverdendyck.jpg|Windmill 'Kyck over den Dyck'
Further Information
Get more info on 'Dordrecht'.
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