Dordrecht

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Dordrecht

This article is about the Dutch city of Dordrecht. There is also Dordrecht, South Africa.

Nl-Dordrecht.ogg (population 119,649 (2004)) , or in English: Dort, is a city in the Dutch province of South Holland, the third largest city of the province. The city can be found at the place het Drierivierenpunt (three river junction) where the Beneden Merwede river splits into the Noord and Oude Maas rivers. At this junction, Dordrecht is facing the cities of Papendrecht and Zwijndrecht. Later on the Dordtsche Kil river connects the Oude Maas river to the Hollands Diep.

The name Dordrecht comes from Thuredrith, an inhabitable spot near the river Thure. Some documentation speaks of a river actually called Thuredrith.

The municipality covers the Dordrecht Island, on the northwest of which the city is located.

Dordrecht has ship building, wood,chemical and metal industry, and a minor sea harbour.

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 beef cattle was taxed in the 17th century. Two men dressed a sheep they bought outside the city walls to make it look like a man. The sheep was uncovered because it bleated as the three men (two men and one sheep) passed through the city wall gate.

Inhabitants of Dordrecht are Dordtenaren (singular: Dordtenaar). Dordrecht is informally called Dordt.

Places of interest:

river quay and Groothoofds Gate
Onze lieve vrouwe Kerk (Our lady's Church) or Grote Kerk (Big Church) with uncompleted tower
canals
merchant houses

Public transport

Part of HTM is SVD, the city bus company of Dordrecht, also serving Werkendam, and also operating the Kop van 't Land ferry on the way.

Fast Ferry:
- Rotterdam Willemskade - Krimpen aan den IJssel Stormpolder - Ridderkerk De Schans - Alblasserdam Kade - Dordrecht Merwekade.

Waterbus:
- Dordrecht Hooikade - Zwijndrecht Veerplein - Dordrecht Merwekade - Papendrecht Veerdam - Papendrecht Oosteind - Hollandse Biesbosch - Sliedrecht Middeldiep

History

Dordrecht received city rights in 1220, making it the oldest city in present-day Holland. On 17th April 1421, the Saint Elisabeth flood drowned large parts of southern Holland, causing Dordrecht to become an island. Over one hundred thousand people died in the flood. Its strategic position made it an important market city (starting in 1299), where wine, wood and cereals were traded.

In 1572, representants of all cities from Holland gathered in Dordrecht to declare their independence of Spain and acknowledge William of Orange as the leader of the fledgling Dutch state. In 1618/1619, an important religious meeting took place, called the synod of Dordrecht, deciding between two main factions in the Dutch reformed church, and planning for the Statenvertaling, the first Dutch Bible translation. In the 18th century, the importance of Dordrecht started to diminish, and Rotterdam became the main city in the region.

Municipalities of South Holland | Towns in South Holland | Islands of the Netherlands | Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta | Cities in the Netherlands

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