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Dordrecht

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This article is about the Dutch city. For the city in South Africa, see: Dordrecht, Eastern Cape.

Dordrecht

Flag

Coat of arms

Coordinates: 51°49′N 4°40′E / 51.81, 4.67

Country

Netherlands

Province

South Holland

Area (2006)

- Total

99.45 km² (38.4 sq mi)

- Land

79.53 km² (30.7 sq mi)

- Water

19.92 km² (7.7 sq mi)

Population (1 January 2007)

- Total

118,613

- Density

1,491/km² (3,861.7/sq mi)

Source: CBS, Statline.

Time zone

CET (UTC+1)

- Summer (DST)

CEST (UTC+2)

Website: www.dordrecht.nl

Satellite image of part of the Rhine-Meuse delta, showing the Island of Dordrecht and the eponymous city (7)

Dordrecht (population 119,649 in 2004), or in English (and local colloquy): Dort, 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 the river, and Middle Dutch drecht "channel", meaning "Thure river crossing". Some documentation speaks of the river actually 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 beef cattle was taxed in the 17th century. Two men dressed up a sheep they had 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.

1 History
2 Economy
3 Places of interest
4 Public transport
5 Famous people from Dordrecht
- 5.1 Honorary citizens of Dordrecht
6 Image gallery
7 External links

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.

View of Dordrecht, by Aelbert Cuyp.

Plan of Dordrecht from 1868.

In 1572, representatives 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 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. It was adopted by Mennonite leaders (the city being a center of Anabaptist activity in the 17th century) on April 21, 1632, and still using it today. This synod also initiated, inspired by the King James Bible, an official Dutch Bible translation (the Statenvertaling) from the original languages, that would be completed in 1637 and have a lasting impact on the standard Dutch language, that was just beginning to gain wide acceptance and developing a literary tradition. It would remain the standard translation in protestant churches for more than three centuries and in some orthodox churches it still is.

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 started to diminish, 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 was 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 municipality Sliedrecht were added to Dordrecht, making Dordrecht Island one municipality.

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.

The Grote Kerk and one of the many canals (New Harbor)

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

Arriva, 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

See also People from Dordrecht

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") detailing the history of the Dutch East India Company and far east cultures
Aart Schouman (1710-1792) - painter, etching artist, 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
Cees Buddingh' (1918-1985) - poet and writer
Jan Eijkelboom (1926) - journalist, poet, and writer
Willy Batenburg (1926-2000) - folk singer
Ad Scheepbouwer (1944) - chairman of the board of KPN

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

Hofstraat	Grote Kerk	Groothoofdspoort	Het Hof (The Court)
Statue of brothers 'de Witt' in front of the library	City Hall	Pottenkade next to the Grote Kerk	Windmill 'Kyck over den Dyck'