Dordrecht - Mid July 2022

5th July – Tuesday – Steenbergen to Dordrecht

We followed the canal out of Steenbergen past these floating shed/holiday home/fisherman’s hideouts.  They can make anything float here.

We also pass through a pretty lock which is where the bridge was on our way in.  We were just unlucky that it was closed on the way in, but it was open today.

First large bridge and lock of the day is the Volkeraksluisen which takes us from the Volkerak to Hollands Diep.

We set off at 08.00 and arrived at 13.40 at the waiting pontoons at the Dordrecht Rail Lift and Road Bridge, Spoorhefbrug en verkeersbrug.  Due to lift at 14.00.

The all lady crews on the traditional Dutch boats led the charge as the lights changed and we all scurried to get under the bridge before it closed.

The rail bridge is lifted high into the air and the road bridge parts in the middle.

We arrive at Nieuwe Haven in Dordrecht shortly afterwards.  We were requested to wait at another waiting pontoon until the small bridge is due to open at 14.30.  Make sure to tie ropes loosely as there was wash from the large vessels passing in the main channels, which make the boat buck against the mooring.

Fleur (2nd from left) in her mooring at Nieuwe Haven, overlooked by the Grote Kerk (Big Church), whose bells chime day and night.   We are in the old district in the new harbour built in 1410.

Dordrecht is the oldest town in Holland and the town was formed into an island after the St Elizabeth’s flood of 1421.

6th to the 10th July – Enjoying Dordrecht

There is a lot to see in Dordrecht, we have only been briefly before so were looking forward to seeing what was on offer.

Groothoofdsspoort Ornate City Gate, around the corner from Nieuwe Haven.

Dordrecht is called the Venice of Holland with its maze of interlocking canals and bridges.

Damiatebrug (Monument Bridge) constructed in 1855-57, wrought iron draw bridge.

Thursday 7th July – Van Gijn Huis

We had a change of plan due to the weather and instead decided to visit the Van Gijn Huis.  Home of Simon Van Gijn, Banker, Lawyer and collector.  It is the recommended place to visit on Tripadvisor along with the Grote Kerk.

From the Café in the Main Hallway we see the beautiful garden and a more impressive aspect of the house.  It is a historic step back in time 100 years.  He lived here from 1864 to 1922.  And it feels like he just left.

There are many sumptuous rooms, like the drawing room above.

The Hall with its rich woodwork and precious wall tapestries, used for receptions since 1730, and maintained by each successive householder.

A glimpse into the domestic side of life on the second floor in the Mangling, Pressing and Drying room.

On the top floor in the attic is a large display of children’s toys, dolls houses etc.  Donated after his death in the 1930s for display, ironically Simon and his wife had no children.

I would recommend a visit here if you like stately homes.  At 12.50 euros it is a good 2 hours entertainment.  A beautiful collection of objects in a large ornate Town House.

Friday 8th July – Kinderdijk

Kinderdijk is a UNESCO World Heritage site, where 19 windmills were built in 1740 to line 2 water basins, the Overwaard and the Nederwaard.  These windmills were designed to drain off the excess water from the polders into the two water basins and then into the River Lek.  All but 3 of the 19 windmills are inhabited today.  Water has been managed in this area for 1000 years.

Mick found a timetable for the Blue Amigo Waterbus to take us to the windmills at Kinderdijk, from Merwekade, near the City Gate every half hour.  Modern, sleek and fast.

Waterbus number 20 takes us to Ridderkerk  for 4.50 euros each, single trip. Approx 20 minutes.

The next ferry, which waits for the big one, takes us to Kinderdijk.  2 euros each.  Old, quaint and slow. 

The first thing you see is a large souvenir shop.

What is harder to spot is this sign, which we only saw on the way out….

Keep the souvenir shop on your right and walk down the lane to buy tickets at the new Tourist centre and café.  16 Euros per person including ferry rides around the windmills.

The circular ferry takes you on a relaxing trip past all the windmills and back again.  There is another hop-on hop-off ferry to take you to the museum windmills.

From the ferry.

They are impressive.

On the bridge to the museum windmill.  It was a beautiful day.  Would have been no fun yesterday.

One of the lived in windmills.

Blokweer windmill.

Inside has been left as a 1950s house.  On the wall above the door was a very modern video explaining how the whole site works.

 

The barge beside the Blokweer also had three video screens explaining the history of the area.

The pole shows the water heights during the worst floods.

The Nederwaard Museum Windmill is the 2nd largest in Holland.  It was working and all the mechanism were working like clockwork or rather Windmillwork.

Another cosy interior.  This is the first floor and lots of step ladders took us up to the bedrooms on the second floor and the working cogs in the attic.

The Stoom Pump House, Steam.  Replaced the windmills in the 19th and 20th centuries, when the process was electrified.

This is a sculpture of the event during the St Elizabeth Flood in 1421 which lead to the name Kinderdijk.  A girl named Beatrice was adrift in a cradle on the water and a cat also on the cradle moved around to keep the cradle steady until they were rescued.  Kinder is the word for child.

Currently under construction is the next chapter in the story using huge Archimedes’ Screws to move the water into the River Lek.

If you come here, pick your weather, we had a glorious sunny day, phew.

All week we have been parked near this bridge.  Which separates the 2 halves of the Nieuwe Haven.

The harbourmaster cycles round from the office and opens the bridge as required.

For the rest of the time it is an endlessly entertaining steam of people.  We have seen children and adults jumping off.  2 weddings and photographers.  Bicycles, Prams, Scooters.  Little children running up and down the ramps giggling.  Dog Walkers.  And a 1,000 selfies.

9th and 10th July – Sat and Sun – The Hoffestival

2022 marks 450 years of the formation of the Netherlands.

Big bear the day before the festival.

Big bear being thoroughly played with.

The Hof is the place where the first assembly of the 12 Free States were held.  Today there was an orchestra in the courtyard.

A ladies group embroidering Doves.  Later children made a mural, there were bands and performance artists and later a Jazz band.

In the same square is the newly opened Het Hof museum which is dedicated to the four values of freedom, tolerance, connection and diversity.  Normally 7.50 euros to enter, today it was free.

The museum walks through the changes to the city.  The trade and its consequences.  Artefacts which bring the story to life.  Images from conflict and peace.

Ending in a very clever news report while you wait to go into the final room and a video presentation.

The new reports are imagining what the freedom talks would have looked like on the news today, with the gathering factions.  Mass disturbances around the country.

In the large room the modern clothes on the video are subtly replaced with traditional dress as the meeting gathers and the assembly thrashes out the new order.

The assembly room.  Revealed behind the video wall, was quite moving after the telling of an epic tale.

We were just in the right place at the right time today.  Excellent.

We watched another Orchestra and Choir near the big church and a Choir in the Hof church.

Picture from the boat on a still evening.  Grote Kerk.

On Sunday I went into the big church (4 euros inc audio guide).  The leaning tower should have been 108 metres high.  However, during construction the tower started to lean and it was left without a spire.  There is a world renowned organ and the largest bell in Holland inside the church.

Sailors Info

Harbour Masters Office.  All the harbourmasters were very helpful.  We were guided into our tight spot near the bridge.  And left very slowly, with excellent manoeuvring from Mick

92 Euros for 6 nights, if you stay for 7 you pay for 5.  We still only paid for 5.

Wifi OK.  Facilities were traditional but spotless.  50c for a shower or 2 x 50c depending which cubicle you used.  Free electric. 

5 minute walk into the centre of town.  Many shops and Restaurants.  Antique shops in the old town.

Albert Hein supermarket off the main square Statenplein.  Market day Fri and Sat.

Next stop Willemstad.