Dordrecht, Medieval port city in South Holland, Netherlands
Dordrecht sits on an island where five rivers meet in the southwest of the country. The old center contains over 950 protected buildings and is cut by narrow canals that run between warehouses and merchant houses.
William I granted town rights in 1220 as the first settlement in this province. The harbor quickly grew into a major transfer point for goods between the Rhine and the sea.
The city name literally means dry ford and points to the former crossing in the delta. Today locals walk along the old harbors or use the small bridges between the canals as shortcuts through town.
The old town is easy to explore on foot, with many routes along the wharves and through small courtyards. Several medieval city gates serve as landmarks when walking through the center.
The large church from the 14th century has choir stalls with fine carvings showing scenes from daily life. The church tower of 65 meters (213 feet) has remained unchanged since medieval times.
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