Dordrecht Off The Beaten Path

Kyck over den Dyck means "look over the dyke" and is the nickname for Dordrecht's last windmill. After large restauration works, it is now in use as a corn mill making flour for the local bakeries. It was built in 1713 although you can't really recognize it.

The mill is situated in an urban linving house area in the Noordendijk, near to the eastern end of the city. It's within walking distance of Merwestein park and Groothoofdspoort. It is open for visitors on saturdays.

And by the way: On the other side of the street, just in front of the mill, there are stairs constructed for wheelchairs. Try to walk them right in the middle :)

I am not sure if the tip is "off the beaten path", but there are still many travellers who miss it. I know, it's hard to climb the 279 steps to the top of the church, but the view onto the city and its nearby area is impressive. You will also be very near to the big clock from 1629. If you have good weather and clear skies, look to the northwest: You can even see the skyscrapers of Rotterdam as well as the Erasmusbridge. For more photos showing the view from the church tower, see my intro page for Dordrecht.

You can climb the tower for 1 EUR (0,50 cents for children from 5 to twelve, under 5 fro free) between april and october. The opening times vary by day, but it's roughly between 12:00 and 16:00.

This used to be an innovative blacksmith for the big ships that sailed the Merwede river. The smith would repair great anchors. His innovation was simple: don't get the ships in the harbour. No, take a boat and go to the ship on the water. That specific boat was the 'Maria'. And that innovative blacksmith is my children's greatgrandfather.

Igor is a great Ukrainian musician who will play on request for special occasion, classic, folk, anything u like.
He played at a Dutch Ukrainian wedding in January 2005 for the bride and the groom and their Ukrainian guests for which i organized music and special Ukrainian snacks.
Beside the accordeon he plays also the bayan and he plays in classic orchestra;s as well. Beside playing instruments he also tunes piano's. (master pianostemmer).
For contact u can reach him through me or through his moblie +31-(0)6-45840284.

We enyoyed his music very much, he played for me and 2 friends in Hotel Efteling when we were there for a drink.
Thanx Igor we really loved it:-)

In 1572, representatives of Holland and Zeeland met here in the first free assembly, culminating in the birth of the modern Netherlands. Look for the entrance to this peaceful spot around the area of the Augustinerkerk.

Tucked into a bend on Voorstraat, I initially found this church with its 1773 facade boring. Now the more I look at the picture I've come to appreciate how well it fits into its location. Quite nice after all, and that has nothing to do with the cute Dutch girl I caught in my lens.

Dordrecht isn't that big.......and its surroundings are really wonderful, quiet beauty, places to relax, to dream, to have a picnic and aren't the temperatures that high: hire a bike and cycle on the countryside roads where the trees, bare or in full green will give you the feeling of riding in a cathedral, a natural cathedral where the trees form the wonderful vaults!
The Dutch light is here at its most beautiful, in every season.
Even driving there by car is pure joy......
February 2002

More info about this beautiful page at my pages and travelogues of Biesbosch