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This article is about the Dutch city. For the city in South Africa, see: Dordrecht, Eastern Cape. Dordrecht is situated in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.
Dordrecht
Flag of Dordrecht
Flag		 Coat of arms of Dordrecht
Coat of arms
Location of Dordrecht
Coordinates: 51°49′N 4°40′E / 51.81, 4.67
Country Netherlands
Province South Holland
Area (2006)
 - Total 99. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands South Holland ( Dutch:) is a province situated on the North Sea in the western part of the Netherlands. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. 45 km² (38. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of 4 sq mi)
 - Land 79. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. 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. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 7/sq mi)
  Source: CBS, Statline. Statistics Netherlands, founded in 1899, is a Dutch governmental institution that gathers statistical information about the Netherlands.
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)
Satellite image of part of the Rhine-Meuse delta, showing the Island of Dordrecht and the eponymous city (7)

Image:Ltspkr.pngDordrecht (population 119,649 in 2004), or in English (and locally colloquially): Dordt, is a city and municipality in the Dutch province of South Holland, the third largest city of the province. Central European Time ( CET) is one of the names of the Time zone that is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. UTC+1 is used in the following locations Central European Time West Africa Time Western European Summer Time Daylight saving time ( DST Central European Summer Time ( CEST) is one of the names of UTC+2 Time zone, 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. UTC+2 corresponds to the following Time zones Eastern European Time Egypt Standard Time Central Africa Time The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands South Holland ( Dutch:) is a province situated on the North Sea in the western part of the Netherlands. The municipality covers the entire Dordrecht Island, bordered by the rivers Oude Maas, Beneden Merwede, Nieuwe Merwede, Hollands Diep, and Dordtsche Kil. River Oude Maas ("Old Meuse" is a branch in the Rhine - Meuse delta in the Dutch Province of South Holland The Beneden Merwede is a stretch of river in the Netherlands, the continuation of the Boven Merwede after the branching-off of the Nieuwe Merwede Ship Nieuwe Merwede ("New Merwede" is a Canal that was constructed in 1870 to form a branch in the Rhine - Meuse delta. Hollands Diep is a wide river in the Netherlands and an estuary of the Rhine and Meuse river. The Dordtsche Kil is a short river in South Holland in the Netherlands.

The name Dordrecht comes from Thyre, the name of a river, and Middle Dutch drecht "channel", meaning "Thure river crossing". A ford is a place in a Watercourse (most commonly a stream or River) that is shallow enough to be crossed by wading on Horseback or in a wheeled Some documentation speaks of the river actually being 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). Hastings is a town on the coast of East Sussex in England; it is also the administrative centre for the Borough of the same name England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Recklinghausen (ʁɛklɪŋˈhaʊzən is a City in the Ruhr Area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Varna (Варна is the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv The state of Bulgaria (България transliterated bg-Latn ''Balgaria'' The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name language and alphabet of the First Bulgarian Bamenda, also known as Abakwa and Mankon Town, is a city in northwestern Cameroon and capital of the North West Province. The Republic of Cameroon is a unitary republic of central and western Africa. Dordrecht is situated in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Carnival is a festival season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February and March Throughout the year, tourists can buy sheep related souvenirs. This name originates from an old folk story about tax evasion. Import of meat or 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.

Contents

History

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".

View of Dordrecht, by Aelbert Cuyp.
View of Dordrecht, by Aelbert Cuyp. Aelbert Jacobsz Cuyp (October 20 1620 - November 15 1691 was one of the leading Dutch landscape painters of the 17th century
The Synod of Dordrecht 1618/19
The Synod of Dordrecht 1618/19
Plan of Dordrecht from 1868.
Plan of Dordrecht from 1868. The Synod of Dort was a National Synod held in Dordrecht in 1618[[ 619|/19]] by the Dutch Reformed Church, in order to settle a serious controversy

Dordrecht was granted city rights by William I, Count of Holland, in 1220, making it the oldest city in Holland. City rights are a medieval phenomenon in the history of the Low Countries. William I (c 1167 The Hague &ndash 4 February 1222) Count of Holland from 1203 to 1222 Holland is a region in the western part of the Netherlands. A maritime and economic power in the 17th century Holland today consists of the Dutch provinces of

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. A gymnasium (pronounced with ɡ- in several languages is a type of school providing Secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar From 1600 to 1615 Gerhard Johann Vossius was rector at this school. Gerhard Johann Vossius ( Voss) ( 1577 - March 19, 1649) Dutch classical scholar and theologian, was the son of Johannes The word rector ("ruler" from the Latin regere and Rector meaning "Teacher" In Latin has a number of different meanings but all of them indicate an academic

On 17th April 1421, the Saint Elisabeth's flood drowned large parts of southern Holland, causing Dordrecht to become an island. The St Elizabeth's flood of 1421 was a Flooding of an area in what is now the Netherlands. 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.

In 1572, representatives of all Dutch cities gathered in Dordrecht to declare their independence from Spain and acknowledge William of Orange as the leader of the fledgling Dutch state, marking the beginning of the Eighty Years War. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. William I Prince of Orange ( April 24 1533 — July 10 1584) also widely known as William the Silent (Willem de Zwijger or simply The Dutch Revolt, Eighty Years' War or the Revolt of the Netherlands (1568—1648 was the revolt of the Seventeen Provinces in the Low Countries

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 Synod of Dort was a National Synod held in Dordrecht in 1618[[ 619|/19]] by the Dutch Reformed Church, in order to settle a serious controversy Calvinism (sometimes called the Reformed tradition, the Reformed faith, or Reformed theology) is a theological system and an approach to the Arminianism is a school of soteriological thought within Protestant Christianity based on the theological ideas of the Dutch The Arminians were defeated, resulting in the formulation of the Dordrecht Confession of Faith. The Dordrecht Confession of Faith is a statement of religious beliefs adopted by Dutch Mennonite leaders at a meeting in Dordrecht, Netherland

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. For other Patriot political parties see Patriot Party (disambiguation The Patriots (in Dutch: Patriotten) were a political A Stadtholder ( Dutch: stadhouder, " steward " or literally "place-keeper" or "stead-holder" in older Dutch in the Low The House of Orange-Nassau (in Dutch: Huis van Oranje-Nassau) a branch of the German House of Nassau, has played a central role in the political life The Netherlands was after all a republic de jure. Soon after, more cities followed and William V fled from Holland. William V Batavus Prince of Orange and Nassau ( March 8, 1748 &ndash April 9, 1806) was the last Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic 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. Frederick William II (Friedrich Wilhelm II September 25 1744 &ndash November 16 1797) was the fourth King of Prussia, reigning from The Patriots were defeated and Willem V was restored in his position as Stadtholder.

In the 18th century, the importance of Dordrecht began to wane, and Rotterdam became the main city in the region. Rotterdam (pronounced) is the 2nd-largest City by population in the Netherlands, located in the province of 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 were sent to Dordrecht to defend the island. This article describes military mobilization For other meanings see Mobilization (disambiguation.

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. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The border between occupied and liberated regions ran along the Hollands Diep. Hollands Diep is a wide river in the Netherlands and an estuary of the Rhine and Meuse river.

In 1970, the municipality Dubbeldam (then ca. Dubbeldam is a former town in the Dutch province of South Holland. 10,000 inhabitants) and the southern part of the municipality of Sliedrecht were incorporated into Dordrecht, making Dordrecht Island one municipality. Sliedrecht (population 23837 in 2004 is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland.

Economy

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. E I du Pont de Nemours and Company (,) is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a Gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée

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. The Drechtsteden (Dutch for "Drecht" cities are a number of towns and cities bordering each other in the delta area of the rivers Oude Maas, Noord

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.

Places of interest

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

Public transport

Dordrecht is well connected to the Dutch railroad system, and has several international connections. Canals are artificial channels for water There are two types of canals water conveyance canals which are used for the conveyance and delivery of water and Waterways Merchants function as professionals who deal with Trade, dealing in commodities that they do not produce themselves in order to produce Profit. A train is a connected series of vehicles that move along a track ( Permanent way) to transport freight or passengers from one place to another The train system hosts:

Four trainlines

The four operating trainlines serve three railway stations within the city boundaries (Dordrecht, Dordrecht Zuid, Dordrecht Stadspolders). Roosendaal ( is both a city and a Municipality in the southern Netherlands. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Breda ( is a Municipality and a city in the southern part of the Netherlands. Eindhoven ( is a Municipality and a city located in the province of Noord-Brabant in the south of the Netherlands, originally at the confluence Rotterdam (pronounced) is the 2nd-largest City by population in the Netherlands, located in the province of Amsterdam (pronounced) is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland in the west Gorinchem ( also called Gorkum ( is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. Geldermalsen is a Municipality and a town in the western Netherlands.

Main connections


Famous people from Dordrecht

See also People from Dordrecht

Honorary citizens of Dordrecht

Image gallery

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'

External links

A windmill is a machine that is powered by the energy of the wind
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