dordre

Dordre is a historical spelling of Dordrecht, a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The city lies in the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta at the confluence of the Oude Maas, Nieuwe Merwede and Dordtsche Kil, a network of waterways that has long supported its development as a trading town and port.

Dordrecht received city rights in 1220 from Count William I of Holland, making it one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands. In the medieval and early modern periods it grew as a regional center for commerce and shipping, linking inland towns to the larger ports along the North Sea coast. The city experienced various economic shifts with changes in trade routes and river traffic.

Today Dordrecht remains a regional center for services, culture, and logistics. The historic city center preserves a wealth of 17th-century canal houses and churches. Notable landmarks include the Grote Kerk (Great Church), a former Roman Catholic church rebuilt in the 14th–15th centuries, and the Town Hall. The nearby Dordtse Biesbosch National Park preserves a tidal freshwater marsh landscape. The city also hosts museums such as the Dordrechts Museum, which focuses on Dutch Golden Age and 19th-century art, and a variety of events that celebrate its maritime heritage.

As of the early 2020s, Dordrecht has around 120,000–130,000 residents and serves as a rail and road hub linking Rotterdam, The Hague, and other centres in the Randstad.