(population 119,649 in 2004), or in English: Dort, is a city and municipality in the Dutch province of South Holland, the third largest city of the province. The municipality covers the entire Dordrecht Island, bordered by the rivers Oude Maas, Beneden Merwede, Nieuwe Merwede, Hollands Diep, and Dordtsche Kil.

The name Dordrecht comes from Thuredrith, meaning "Thure river crossing". Some documentation speaks of the river actually called Thuredrith. Inhabitants of Dordrecht are Dordtenaren (singular: Dordtenaar). Dordrecht is informally called Dordt.

Partner cities of Dordrecht are:

Hastings in England

Recklinghausen in Germany

Varna in Bulgaria

Bamenda in Cameroon

Dordrecht in South Africa

During Carnaval, Dordrecht is called Ooi- en Ramsgat (Ewe's and Ram's hole), and its inhabitants are Schapenkoppen (Sheepheads). Throughout the year, tourists can buy sheep related souvenirs. This name originates from an old folk story about tax evasion. Import of meat or beef cattle was taxed in the 17th century. Two men dressed a sheep they bought outside the city walls to make it look like a man. The sheep was uncovered because it bleated as the three men (two men and one sheep) passed through the city wall gate.

History

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The city was formed along the Thure river, in the midst of peat swamps. This river was a branch of the river Dubbel and ran approximately near the current Bagijnhof. In 1049 the first reference to Dordrecht was made. Count Dirk IV was murdered that year near "Thuredrech".

Dordrecht was granted city rights by William I, Count of Holland, in 1220, making it the oldest city in Holland.

In 1253 a Latin school was founded in Dordrecht. It still exists today as the Johan de Witt Gymnasium and is the oldest gymnasium in the Netherlands. From 1600 to 1615 Gerhard Johann Vossius was rector at this school.

On 17th April 1421, the Saint Elisabeth flood drowned large parts of southern Holland, causing Dordrecht to become an island. Over one hundred thousand people died in the flood. Because of its strategic location the city developed into an important market city. It traded primarily in wine, wood, and cereals.

In 1572, representants of all cities from Holland gathered in Dordrecht to declare their independence of Spain and acknowledge William of Orange as the leader of the fledgling Dutch state.

In 1618/1619, an important religious meeting took place, called the synod of Dordrecht, deciding between two main factions in the Dutch reformed church, and planning for the Statenvertaling, the first Dutch Bible translation. A center of Anabaptist activity in the 17th century, Mennonite leaders adopted the Dordrecht Confession of Faith here on April 21, 1632.

From 1780 to 1787, Dordrecht was home to the Patriots faction which intended to remove the hereditary Stadtholder position held by the House of Orange-Nassau. The Netherlands was after all a republic de jure. Soon after, more cities followed and William V fled from Holland. But his brother-in-law, King Frederick William II of Prussia, came to the aid of William V and on 18 september 1787, Dordrecht capitulated to Prussian troops. The Patriots were defeated and Willem V was...