Dordrecht ( pronunciation (help·info)) is a city and municipality in the Dutch province of South Holland, the Netherlands. It is the fourth largest city of the province, having a population of 118,390 in 2008. The municipality covers the entire Dordrecht Island, also often called the Island of Dordt, bordered by the rivers Oude Maas, Beneden Merwede, Nieuwe Merwede, Hollands Diep, and Dordtsche Kil. Dordrecht is the largest and most important cit...
more
Dordrecht ( pronunciation (help·info)) is a city and municipality in the Dutch province of South Holland, the Netherlands. It is the fourth largest city of the province, having a population of 118,390 in 2008. The municipality covers the entire Dordrecht Island, also often called the Island of Dordt, bordered by the rivers Oude Maas, Beneden Merwede, Nieuwe Merwede, Hollands Diep, and Dordtsche Kil. Dordrecht is the largest and most important city in the Drechtsteden and is also part of the Randstad, the main conurbation in the Netherlands. Dordrecht is the oldest city in Holland and has a rich history and culture.
The name Dordrecht comes from Thyre, the name of a river, and Middle Dutch drecht "ford", meaning "Thure river crossing". Some documentation speaks of the river actually being called Thuredrith. Inhabitants of Dordrecht are Dordtenaren (singular: Dordtenaar). Dordrecht is informally called Dordt by its inhabitants.
The city was formed along the Thure river, in the midst of...
less
