Dordrecht travel guide
Holland's oldest city, a carillon tower and river harbours
The oldest city in Holland, on its own river island 15 minutes by train from Rotterdam, with nearly 900 listed buildings and old harbours. April to October is best for climbing the Grote Kerk tower and cycling into the Biesbosch. One unhurried day, or two with Kinderdijk. Prices are very high, and many passports need no visa.
Dordrecht is the oldest city in Holland, filling an island ringed by the Oude Maas, the Merwede and other rivers just south-east of Rotterdam. It escaped heavy damage in the Second World War, so close to 900 listed buildings line its harbours and streets. Trains from Rotterdam take about 15 minutes; the waterbus is slower and comes in by river.
Climb the tower of the Grote Kerk first. It is 65 metres high, never finished, and holds a 67-bell carillon including the heaviest bell in the Netherlands; the steps are steep and single-file. Down by the water, the Groothoofd marks the point where the rivers meet. The Hof van Dordt is where the first free assembly of the Dutch states met in 1572.
Eat around the Statenplein or on the Scheffersplein off Wijnstraat, where tables spill outside in good weather; the Scheffersplein is also where the evening drinking happens. Hotels are few, so book ahead. On a fine day, hire a bike at the station and ride into the Biesbosch wetlands or as far as the Kinderdijk mills.
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Top things to do in Dordrecht
Old harbours, a carillon tower and wetland rides from the oldest city in Holland.
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Best time to visit Dordrecht
Month by month, so you can pick the weather and the crowds you want.
The Grote Kerk opens six days a week and terraces line the Statenplein.
The Grote Kerk opens only on Saturday afternoons until mid-December, and the harbours are quiet.
From April to October the Grote Kerk tower is open Tuesday to Sunday; in November and early December only on Saturday afternoons.
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Getting there
Train or waterbus from Rotterdam
Direct trains reach Dordrecht from Rotterdam Centraal and Blaak in about 15 minutes, and Intercitys from Amsterdam Centraal call on their way to Roosendaal. The slower, more enjoyable approach is the waterbus, a fast ferry from Rotterdam that takes the same card as the train and ties up near the old town.
- Rotterdam Centraal or Blaak
- Train in about 15 minutes
- Amsterdam Centraal
- Direct Intercity via The Hague and Rotterdam, continuing to Roosendaal
- Waterbus
- Fast ferry from Rotterdam, part of the regular public transport network
- Rotterdam The Hague (RTM)
- Bus to Rotterdam Centraal, then train
- Breda, Roosendaal, Gorinchem
- Direct trains
- Go one way by train and the other by waterbus; the river trip shows you why the city grew rich at this confluence.
Where to stay
Harbour streets, Stadsklooster or a Rotterdam base
Dordrecht has fewer hotels than a city of its age and size would suggest, and true budget beds are rare, so book early, especially for summer weekends and rooms near the harbours. The Stadsklooster area is another option, and some visitors base themselves in Rotterdam, 15 minutes away by train.
- Old harbours
- Historic streets, restaurants and the Scheffersplein bars close by; atmospheric but lively at night
- Stadsklooster Dordt
- Affordable hostel beds in one large shared space, plus pricier private rooms; the budget pick
- Rotterdam
- A far bigger hotel choice 15 minutes away by train, if Dordrecht is full
Getting around
Voorstraat strolls, Biesbosch bike rides
Walk old Dordrecht, where many of its nearly 900 listed buildings carry dates on their facades and the harbours, the Voorstraat and the Grote Kerk are a short stroll apart. Qbuzz buses help with luggage. Rent a bike on Stationsplein or Achterhakkers for the Biesbosch creeks or the ride to Kinderdijk.
- Walking
- Station to the harbours and the Grote Kerk
- Qbuzz buses
- City districts and nearby towns
- Bike hire
- Stationsplein by the station, and Achterhakkers
- Waterbus
- River links from the quays to Rotterdam and towns across the water
- Most building plaques are in Dutch only; the VVV tourist office can fill in the stories.
Know before you go
What makes Dordrecht worth the trip, and what catches visitors out.
Why travelers love it
- The Grote Kerk tower, a steep climb to the carillon and the heaviest bell in the country.
- The Groothoofd, where the rivers meet at the tip of the old town.
- Cycling to the Biesbosch, the freshwater wetland of creeks and willows beside the island.
Good to know
- The tower stairs are narrow, one way up and the same way down; skip them if you dislike tight spaces.
- Hotels are scarce, so reserve before you arrive.
Trip fit
BookingMentor editorial ratings out of 5, based on a first-time visitor's experience.
Weather in Dordrecht, month by month
Month-by-month climate figures for Dordrecht are being researched.
The Grote Kerk tower, the Groothoofd and Dordrecht's old harbours
Arrive in Dordrecht by waterbus from Rotterdam if you can, so the city appears first from the river. Climb the unfinished 65-metre tower of the Grote Kerk, built between 1285 and 1470, lunch on the Statenplein, and follow the harbours down to the Groothoofd, where three rivers meet. With daylight left, rent a bike.
Back inside the church, look for the modern stained-glass window dedicated to the city's guilds.
Afternoon. After lunch on the Statenplein, follow the harbours down to the Groothoofd, the tip of the old town where the rivers meet and barges pass close to the quay. Then choose between the Dordrechts Museum for painting and the Hof van Dordt, where the States of Holland gathered freely in 1572 at the start of the revolt against Spain.
Evening. With daylight left, rent a bike at the station and ride out towards the Biesbosch; otherwise settle in on the Scheffersplein for dinner and a drink.
Dinner around the Statenplein and the Scheffersplein
Locals call their city Dordt, and its restaurants sit in a few clear pockets. The Statenplein, a big open square in the centre, is ringed by restaurants whose tables come out the moment the weather turns, and kitchens range from Greek and Turkish to Thai. For drinks, head to the bars around the Scheffersplein.
Kitchens cover a long list of cuisines, from Greek, Macedonian and Turkish to Thai and Vietnamese, with varying authenticity. For specific addresses, Post on Johan de Wittstraat, three minutes' walk north of the station, does breakfast, lunch, pastries and dinner, useful if you arrive early. Baloe Beer on the Wijnstraat is a branch of the Beren chain, the Dutch name for an evening of spareribs. Centre Ville on the Voorstraat is a more central sit-down option.
For drinking, pick a bar around the Scheffersplein, where the evening crowd gathers; The Hide Away, run by a Dutch and Scottish couple, has a loyal following.
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How we research our Dordrecht travel guide
Dordrecht's trains and waterbus are checked with NS Dutch Railways and the city's official website, and the Grote Kerk and harbour notes against Holland.com and Wikipedia's Dordrecht entry.
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Checked against trusted sources:
Official website of DordrechtHolland.comNS Dutch Railways
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Quick answers to the questions travelers ask most before visiting Dordrecht.
Getting there
The train from Centraal or Blaak is quicker, about 15 minutes. The waterbus takes longer but runs past the port and ties up by the old town, so it makes the better outward trip.
Rarely. The harbours, Voorstraat and Grote Kerk are a short stroll apart; buses help only with heavy luggage or for the newer districts.
Direct trains reach Dordrecht from Rotterdam Centraal and Blaak in about 15 minutes, and Intercitys from Amsterdam Centraal call on their way to Roosendaal. The slower, more enjoyable approach is the waterbus, a fast ferry from Rotterdam that takes the same card as the train and ties up near the old town.
General
Yes, Tuesday to Sunday from April to October, and on Saturday afternoons in November and early December. The stairs are steep and narrow, with one route up and down.
Yes. Many visitors cycle there from Dordrecht, and the Biesbosch wetlands are also within bike range.
Yes, it is the oldest city in the historic county of Holland. Its long trading wealth and light wartime damage left close to 900 listed buildings.
Yes. Intercitys from Amsterdam Centraal run via The Hague and Rotterdam, stop at Dordrecht and continue to Roosendaal.
It covers the tower, the harbours and one museum. Add a second day if you want to cycle into the Biesbosch or out to Kinderdijk.
The northern tip of the old town, where the rivers around Dordrecht meet. It is the best place in the city to watch the barge traffic.
The Statenplein is the bigger, more open square for a daytime meal; the Scheffersplein off Wijnstraat stays busy later and suits dinner followed by drinks. Post near the station is handy for an early breakfast.
Walk old Dordrecht, where many of its nearly 900 listed buildings carry dates on their facades and the harbours, the Voorstraat and the Grote Kerk are a short stroll apart. Qbuzz buses help with luggage. Rent a bike on Stationsplein or Achterhakkers for the Biesbosch creeks or the ride to Kinderdijk.
Prices & payment
Stadsklooster Dordt has affordable beds in one large shared space as well as private rooms. Other budget options are scarce, so book early.
Timing & weather
The best time to visit Dordrecht is Apr to Oct. The Grote Kerk tower has its longest opening hours and the Biesbosch suits cycling.
- Best overall: April - October (The Grote Kerk opens six days a week and terraces line the Statenplein)
- Late year: November - December (The Grote Kerk opens only on Saturday afternoons until mid-December, and the harbours are quiet)
Visa & documents
Schengen rules govern entry to the Netherlands. Citizens of the EU and of many other countries, including the US, UK, Canada and Australia, can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; other nationalities need a Schengen visa. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) records non-EU travelers' fingerprints and a photo at the border.
Health & safety
Crime in the Netherlands is low. Bike theft and pickpocketing in busy areas are the main issues; watch out for cyclists.
