Gemeente Dordrecht

The location on the wide waterways has through the centuries, brought Dordrecht prosperity. Until the sixteenth century the city was a prominent trading town in Holland.

Ocean-going vessels could sail up to here. And from Germany and Flanders too, many people sailed to Dordrecht. Merchants and ships' masters met each other here and exchanged goods.

The rulers of Dordrecht made them pay substantial tolls for the use of the rivers. They levied so-called stapelrecht [staple rights], a duty on trading goods. The Count of Holland granted Dordrecht staple rights as early as 1299, which were detested by ships' masters in the centuries that followed. All goods which were transported over the rivers of Holland first had to be discharged in Dordrecht and offered for sale.

The town achieved a monopoly position for products like wine, salt, timber and wool. It became an important link in the trade with France, England and the countries along the Baltic. The Hanseatic towns and the (Dutch) West India Company, which regarded the Caribbean as a colony, held office in the city.

The landed gentry in Holland's oldest city became rich and powerful from this. To be able to receive all ships, the harbours were extended further and further as time went on. After the Wijnhaven, the place where Dordrecht originated, other harbours including Nieuwe Haven and Wolwevershaven [Wool weavers' harbour] were added. Of the old harbours, only the Bomhaven and Kalkhaven [Chalk harbour], where floating timber was once stored, are still in use by the transport sector. The other historic harbours now provide mooring places for pleasure craft, old inland waterway vessels and steamboats.

Dordrecht also has berths for pleasure boats outside the historic inner city. The ten marinas have some two thousand berths. For those who really want to see the historic inner harbours at close quarters, the 'Waterrondje Dordt' [Dordt Water Trip] has been created. From the quiet sight-seeing boat 'Dordtevaar', the tall and crooked rear elevations of the unknown city can be seen by all.

Dordrecht is still an important centre for inland shipping, distribution and transport. The three inland ports carry on the tradition, be it in a more modest form. They are easily accessible for ships supplying bulk goods. There are also plentiful opportunities for container transhipment. The harbours give access to the Dordtse Kil and the Oude Maas, leading to the Rotterdam Europoort area. It is a favourable position in the shadow of a seaport of global importance. At national level the Dordtse Zeehaven occupies the sixth place.