Jaap van 't Veen's photos with the keyword: Dordrecht

A “hofje” is a Dutch word for a courtyard with almshouses around it. They have existed since the Middle Ages. Dordrecht has several “hofjes”. Arend Maartenshof was founded in 1625 by Arend Maartenszoon in an attempt to shake off his bad reputation in the city. The entrance is through a lavishly decorated renaissance gate. Atround a courtyard with centuries old trees and a well are 38 houses built, which were destined for poverty-stricken women and widows of soldiers. Since the 1980s, admission rules for the cottages have been relaxed. But two rules of the old founder stand: residents must be of impeccable conduct and they must lovingly care for the living environment. The municipality of Dordrecht bought the Arend Maartenshof at the end of the 20th century and carried out a complete renovation.

Huis Van Gijn was the residence - built in 1729 - of the banker and avid collector Simon van Gijn, who lived here from 1864 until his death in 1922. He left the house and most of his collections to the Vereniging Oud-Dordrecht (Old Dordrecht Society). His wanted to make his collections publicly accessible and for his home to be converted into a museum, maintaining the interior in its original state as much as possible. Since 1925 Huis Van Gijn has been open to the public, allowing visitors to experience upper class living during the nineteenth-century. Nowadays the museum offers a wide variety of exhibits, ranging from paintings and prints, arms and ships to furniture, silverware and ceramics. The attic holds a unique collection of 19th-century toys. His collection was merged with the collection of the Vereniging Oud-Dordrecht and is constantly being expanded.

The Grote Kerk (Big Church) or Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe-Kerk (Our Dear Lady Church) was built between 1285 and 1470 in Brabantine Gothic style. This Protestant church is the largest and the second oldest church in the city. The dome-vault of the Big Church is the only one in the Netherlands fully made of stone. The impressive interior is well known for its choir stalls, chapels, pulpit and several other monuments. The tower of the church has a height of 65 meters and is never finished. Dordrecht's position in between rivers made the ground very wet and spongy and unable to support such a heavy structure. The tower started leaning over two meters, which is still visible. The tower is topped with four pointer clocks and a carillon with 67 bells, with its 52.000 kilos it is one of the largest in Europe.

Dutch wetland ‘jungle’ in the Biesbosch* National Park. Picture was taken along the so called ‘Griendmuseumpad’. During my visit completely lined with blooming Himalayan Balsam (PiP). The ‘Biesbosch National Park’ is a green maze of rivers, islands and a vast network of narrow and wide creeks. The park is one of largest and most valuable natural areas in the Netherlands. It’s also one of the few remaining fresh-water tidal areas in Europe. (*Biesbosch = 'forest of sedges' or 'rushwoods')

The ‘Arend Maartenszhof’ is (for me) the most beautiful almshouses in Dordrecht. It was founded in 1625 by Arend Maartenszoon - a wealthy inhabitant of the city - for poor women and widows of soldiers who died for their country. Thirty-eight cottages surround a courtyard with lots of flowers, ancient trees and a water well (see PiP) and are nowadays housing both men and women.