We woke up at the dock in historic Dordrecht and our first view is an old windmill (a landmark that’s not really in use). We grabbed some (way too much) breakfast (again) and met a guide with our group to explore the downtown and harbors before our departure at noon for Rotterdam.
We walked across some drawbridges that allow the smaller vessels in and out of the narrow canals (they call them harbors) to the main harbors. Dordrecht is a city that operates as much on water as on land. Water is both the beauty and the challenge of the Netherlands. Our group got separated by the sudden opening of the drawbridge (above). The gate in the foreground controls pedestrians, bicycles…and tourists.
The old city gate to what most people concede it the oldest city in the Netherlands. The coats of arms above the gate are a warning to potential invaders of the group strength of the combined local houses and guilds. It was one of the Netherlands most prosperous ports, rivaling both Rotterdam and Amsterdam…at least from it’s chartering in 1220 (it was founded in ~1008).
The picturesque older streets and narrow passageways are at every turn. Notice the brick building leaning “precariously” over the street. Houses like these were built just like that on purpose. Why? Since there were no street signs or house numbers at the time, these “standouts” acted as landmarks so you wouldn’t start walking all they way down the long street only to find you were in the wrong place.
Indeed some quirky things about Dordrecht. The nobleman’s dog’s nose (outside a cathedral) is rubbed to a sparkling shine by locals (and tourists) to ensure they will have a good and lucky day…do not pass without rubbing! We noticed a reflection on a rooftop. On closer inspection, some creature (who knows what?) protecting…who knows what?
Finally a door in a really strange place. The story is that a wealthy man’s son wanted to marry a woman of lower class. The father wasn’t happy, but built the woman a house. Only problem is, he put the doorway on the second floor (with no steps or ladder) and essentially imprisoned her. So, the son simply looked elsewhere for a mate.
Farewell to Dordrecht and back to the boat where lunch had some spectacular deserts as we sailed away toward Rotterdam. It was a beautiful day to walk around the top deck and watch the wonders of the way to the large port city.
Spectacularly designed drawbridges saluted us as we made our way on the spreading and meandering Rhine, competing along the way with endless lines of barges carrying the worlds goods to and fro. The art of the bridges was a harbinger of the incredible modern design of the buildings in Rotterdam.
The old SS Rotterdam, now a multi-star hotel, graces the harbor as we pass by some combinations of old and new, and spectacular modern design. Rotterdam was settled ~900 AD as a model of then modern architecture. Unfortunately though, the city was almost totally destroyed by the Luftwaffe during WWII. It had to be rebuilt from the ground up. The city council “bravely” decided not to re-create the Golden Age look, and opted for a forward looking vision. The number of innovations in engineering and art is astounding.
Impossible and impossibly beautiful creations grace the Rotterdam skyline. A fitting backdrop to the natural and artificial waterways that link to the Rhine and central Europe…recognized as the “Gateway to Europe.”
A meaningful last view as we make our way to where the Lek and Noord Rivers meet and the village of Kinderdijk…and its quaint surprises. So gather up your helmets and biking shorts. Tomorrow we explore like the “natives.” Right.
I hope you’ll be able to visit the beautiful gardens of Keukenhof. I was there in Spring 2014. The tulips were beautiful. Not too far from Amsterdam.
Another off the beaten path is Westerbrok, the transit camp where the Frank family were sent. That may be too far north, though.
Love your blog.
Nina