One of my favorite things about traveling around Europe is exploring old small towns – we just don’t have old in the United States! A stop in Dordrecht, Holland’s oldest city, is a must for anyone who adores small towns, quirky architecture & being the only American around for miles (this is not a bad thing). Founded in 1220, the area had rather infamous flood in 1412 & they’ve been perfecting water management ever since. The houses are all either built at a slant, to allow for furniture to be hoisted up to upper floors, or have ended up at quite a slant, due to the soft ground they’re built upon. An hour of walking covers most of the town, including the lovely waterfront area where you can catch a waterbus to Kinderdijk or all the way to Rotterdam. I toured the city as a guest of Visit Holland; here are some of my favorite images from our time there:
Note: My time in Holland was hosted by Visit Holland; however, all opinions here are my own. Dinner & the town really was awesome, even if it moved at a slower pace than Americans are used to.
Esther says
My first job as a journalist was in Dordrecht, and it was such a terrible experience that I never actually went back!! Haha! My brother in law lives on the outskirts of Dordrecht, but haven’t made it back to Dordrecht in years. I really should, I do remember how pretty it is.
christina says
I can see how living & working in Dordrecht might be tough – it’s a really small town! But charming to visit, if just for a stroll along the waterfront.