Dordrecht: Northern Venice

What to expect

You will learn:

• Why the fate of all the Netherlands depended on Dordrecht
• How the Dutch city resembles Venice
• Why one of the city streets is named after a famous pirate
• Why rich residents of Amsterdam used to come to Dordrecht to borrow money from the townspeople
• Why many houses display names of other cities, countries, and potato varieties
• Why Dordrecht is a center for antiques and collectibles

And much more!

You will see:

• The 19th-century Willem Palace mansion, which belonged to a family of doctors. I will tell you about the secret related to the early death of their son.
• The sculpture composition Medea on the outer canal of Dordrecht, associated with opera singer Maria Callas
• The 19th-century Catholic church, which was transformed into a popular art space during restoration
• The shelter for lonely women and widows Arend Martinshof, which has been around for 400 years. In the courtyard, we will see 200-year-old plane trees.
• The Dutch court - Hof Van Holland, where the fate of the future Netherlands was decided in 1572
• The harbors Vinary, Novaya, and Kolk - the oldest harbors and bridges in Holland, holding amazing stories of merchants and pirates. From here, you will have wonderful views of the city.
• The main gates in the old fortress wall, where the Novaya harbor begins
• The long metal bridge - a meeting place for all the housewives of the Novaya harbor. From here, you will have a beautiful view of Grote Kerk - the largest church in the city. We will also visit it.
• The old town hall. It used to be a prison and a court.
• The main square named after Arie Schifera. I will tell the amazing story of the artist from Dordrecht who has a whole museum in Paris dedicated to him.

We will also walk in the footsteps of Vincent Van Gogh, who lived in Dordrecht in 1877. And if you wish, we will visit a few patrician houses and unique antique shops - considered among the best in the country.