# Dordrecht Harbours with historic boats, the Grote Kerk tower, three museums free for under-18s and the Waterbus along the river to the Kinderdijk windmills. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/the-netherlands/dordrecht · Revisado: 2026-11-12 Dordrecht is the oldest city in Holland and it shows in its layout: an island surrounded by rivers, with a centre of narrow harbours, merchants' houses, warehouses and moored wooden boats. In 1572 it hosted the first free assembly of the States of Holland in the revolt against Philip II, the origin of the independent country. Today it is a quiet city, far less visited than Delft or Leiden, with three museums free for under-18s and a practical advantage: from its quays leaves the Waterbus, the fast boat that takes you along the river towards the windmills of Kinderdijk. ## How do I get there from Amsterdam? By train, via Rotterdam: there are direct trains from Amsterdam Centraal and from Schiphol, and others with a change at Rotterdam Centraal. The station is south of the centre, about fifteen minutes on foot from the Grote Kerk. Pay by tapping a contactless card on the reader when you enter and leave. If you come from Rotterdam, the Waterbus also brings you along the river to the Merwekade. By car, parking in the centre is expensive; leave the car on the Weeskinderendijk, where the first day costs €1, and walk, or sleep in a hotel with parking such as the Hotel Dordrecht. ## What to see in Dordrecht? Start with the Grote Kerk, the great Gothic church in the centre, and climb its square tower: church and tower cost €4, and nothing up to age 12. Continue with the harbours walk: the Groothoofdspoort, the monumental gate at the tip of the city, the Wolwevershaven with its historic boats and the Nieuwe Haven. There are three museums a few minutes from one another. The Dordrechts Museum covers six centuries of Dutch painting; Huis Van Gijn is a 19th-century house with the drawing rooms upstairs and the servants' kitchen downstairs, and the Hof van Nederland tells the story of the country's freedoms where it began, with a ball pool and an escape game for children. Under-18s do not pay at the first two, and the day ticket combining two museums costs €22. ## How do you get to Kinderdijk from Dordrecht? By water: the Waterbus line 20 leaves from the Merwekade for Ridderkerk, and at the Schans stop you change to the Driehoeksveer, a small ferry that drops you at Kinderdijk in a few minutes. The Waterbus day ticket costs €16.10, and the ferry is paid separately. By land, bus 93 runs direct from Monday to Friday, and the 416 with a change to the 489 any day. The one-day combination is clear: Dordrecht in the morning, windmills in the afternoon. ## Where to eat and sleep? De Klander Muelen, in a 17th-century house on the Statenplein, is open every day, including Sunday, with lunch until five. Broodcafé Jaap bakes its own bread and serves breakfast and lunch from Tuesday to Saturday. To sleep in the centre, the Stadshotel Steegoversloot has twelve rooms with its own pastry shop downstairs; the Hotel Dordrecht is a stately house beside the Kalkhaven, with free parking and a 24-hour reception. ## One day or one night? In a day you see the centre, one museum and the windmills. With a night, the city changes: the harbours go quiet and the next day you can carry on to Rotterdam by Waterbus or to the De Biesbosch National Park by car. ## When to go? From April to October, when the Grote Kerk and its tower are open and Kinderdijk has long hours. The museums are open all year, so in winter Dordrecht is a good city plan, without the windmills at their best. Avoid Mondays: the Grote Kerk and the Dordrechts Museum are closed. ## Dónde está - Cerca: Kinderdijk (a 8.5 km), Rotterdam (a 17.6 km), Gouda (a 22.1 km), Delft (a 30.5 km) ## Qué hacer - **Grote Kerk Dordrecht and Tower Climb** (1 h 30 · All ages; the tower involves climbing stairs · €4 church and tower · free up to age 12): The Grote Kerk, or Church of Our Lady, is the building you can see from anywhere in Dordrecht: an enormous Gothic church beside the Lange Geldersekade, with a massive square tower that you climb on foot. From the top you see the rooftops of the centre, the harbours and the rivers that surround the city on every side. Hours and entry From 1 April to 31 October, the church is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:30 to 16:30 and Sunday from 12:00 to 16:00; the tower closes half an hour earlier. Entry and the climb cost €4; up to age 12 it is free. On Saturdays at 14:15 there is a guided visit for €5. In November and December it is only open on some Saturday afternoons, and the tower has a renovation announced: check their website before you go. - **Waterbus from Dordrecht to the Kinderdijk Windmills** (4 h · All ages; bikes free on board · Waterbus day ticket €16.10 · ages 4 to 11 €5.20 · Driehoeksveer separate): The prettiest way to get from Dordrecht to the windmills of Kinderdijk is by water. The Waterbus is a fast public transport boat linking Dordrecht with Rotterdam along the rivers, with stops in the villages on the bank. From the Merwekade you take line 20, get off at the Schans de Ridderkerk stop and there cross the river on the Driehoeksveer, a small ferry that drops you at Kinderdijk in a few minutes. Tickets You pay for the Waterbus by tapping your contactless card on the reader, or with a €16.10 day ticket (€5.20 for ages 4 to 11), which is worth it if you go and return. On board you can only pay by card. The Driehoeksveer is not part of the Waterbus and is paid separately. Bikes go on free: if you have one, you can get off at Alblasserdam and cycle a quarter of an hour along the dyke. If there is no boat From Monday to Friday, bus 93 leaves every hour from platform B at Dordrecht station for Kinderdijk; on any day, the 416 takes you to Alblasserdam, where you change to the 489. Check the timetables the day before you leave. - **Dordrechts Museum, Six Centuries of Dutch Painting** (2 h · Adults and teenagers · €17 adults · free up to age 18 · with Huis Van Gijn or Hof van Nederland €22): The Dordrecht museum tells the story of six centuries of Dutch painting, from the old masters to contemporary art, with particular attention to what was painted in the city. You can see it in one or two hours; if you add the temporary exhibitions, the café and the shop, allow half a day. Hours and entry Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00 to 17:00; closed on Mondays. It costs €17, and free up to age 18. If you are going to see another museum in the city, the day ticket with Huis Van Gijn or the Hof van Nederland costs €22. Buy it on their website. - **Huis Van Gijn, a 19th-Century House as It Was** (1 h 30 · All ages · €14 adults · free up to age 18): Huis Van Gijn is a stately house on the Nieuwe Haven named after its owner, Simon van Gijn, and is visited as a working 19th-century house: the drawing rooms, dining room and bedrooms upstairs, and downstairs, the kitchen and the servants' quarters, which show how the people who kept the house running worked in the 19th century. Hours and entry Open 11:00 to 17:00 and closed only on 1 January, King's Day and 25 December; check their website for the days of the week. It costs €14, free up to 18, and €22 with the Dordrechts Museum on the same day. - **Hof van Nederland, Where the Country Was Born** (1 h 30 · All ages · €14 adults · €2 ages 4 to 12 · €4 ages 13 to 18): The Hof van Nederland is Dordrecht's history museum, in the Hof, the complex where in 1572 the States of Holland met in the first free assembly of the revolt against Philip II. It tells how the Dutch have understood and defended their freedoms, from then to today, from several points of view. For children there is a ball pit, an escape game and a trail of their own with the Griffioen, a griffin who acts as guide. Hours and entry Open 11:00 to 17:00 and closed only on 1 January, King's Day and 25 December. It costs €14 for adults, €2 for ages 4 to 12 and €4 for ages 13 to 18; with the Dordrechts Museum on the same day, €22. - **Harbours Walk, from the Groothoofdspoort to the Wolwevershaven** (1 h 30 · 3.5 km · All ages · Free): Dordrecht lived off the river, and the centre is best understood by walking its harbours: narrow quays with merchants' houses, drawbridges and moored wooden boats. Start at the Groothoofdspoort, the monumental gate at the tip of the city, where the rivers widen, and continue along the Wolwevershaven, full of historic boats. Then go down the Nieuwe Haven, with Huis Van Gijn on the quay, to the Grote Kerk. How to do it Everything is flat and it takes an hour and a half without going into anywhere. If you want a guide, the tourist office organises walks on Saturdays. Finish at the Merwekade if you are catching the Waterbus. ## Dónde comer - **De Klander Muelen** (Restaurant, Dordrecht, €€). Qué pedir: a late lunch, served until five, or something to share on the square terrace. - **Broodcafé Jaap** (Bakery, Dordrecht, €). Qué pedir: breakfast, until 11:00, or a sandwich on freshly baked bread; if you have allergies, tell them beforehand. ## By plane: Fly to Amsterdam or Rotterdam and Take the Train to Dordrecht Dordrecht is south of Rotterdam, on the rail line from Amsterdam towards Belgium. The usual route is to fly to Amsterdam Schiphol, with direct flights from Madrid, Barcelona and nearly all the major Spanish cities, and continue by train, direct or with one change. With a hire car, Dordrecht is about twenty-five minutes from Rotterdam by motorway. ### Dónde dormir if you're flying - **Stadshotel Steegoversloot** (Small hotel): The place The Stadshotel Steegoversloot occupies a protected building on a street in the historic centre, five minutes' walk from the Statenplein and the museums. It has twelve rooms in a contemporary style, each different: attic rooms with beams, with a balcony or with an open-plan bathroom. On the ground floor is Christa's, the hotel's patisserie and lunch room, with the air of an old-fashioned tearoom. Why stay here Because you sleep inside the centre, with breakfast from the in-house patisserie, from 7:30 to 10:30 (from 8:00 at weekends), and everything on foot: the Grote Kerk, the harbours and the Waterbus at the Merwekade. Getting there and parking From the station, about fifteen minutes on foot. By car, behind the hotel there is a paid car park, at €3.50 an hour; the Q-Park Drievriendenhof, three minutes away, has a reduced rate of €17.50 for 24 hours if you book with the hotel's link, and the one on the Weeskinderendijk costs €1 for the first day, 25 minutes' walk away. - **Hotel Dordrecht** (Hotel): The place Hotel Dordrecht occupies a restored stately house beside the Kalkhaven, one of the harbours west of the centre. The Classic and Superior rooms are in the house, with high ceilings and classic furniture, and two of the Superior ones have a balcony; the Standard and single rooms are in a garden building with direct access from the car park. There is a terrace, the Double Dutch bar, with a good whisky list, and an early breakfast, from 6:00 to 10:00, in a dining room surrounded by paintings. Why stay here For the free parking and the 24-hour reception, uncommon in the centre of a historic city. If you arrive in a hire car from Schiphol, it is the most convenient base: the centre is ten minutes on foot and Rotterdam twenty-five by car. Getting there From the station, about fifteen minutes on foot. By car, you park at the hotel itself. ### Servicios - **Dordrecht Station**: Trains from Amsterdam and Rotterdam; buses 93 and 416 to Kinderdijk leave from platform B. The centre is about fifteen minutes on foot. ## Car-free: Dordrecht by Train, Boat and on Foot Dordrecht can be done entirely without a car: train from Amsterdam or Rotterdam, the centre on foot and the Waterbus to Kinderdijk along the river. The budget per person per day includes accommodation, food, entry fees and the boat day ticket. Presupuesto orientativo: 80–150 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir without a car - **Stadshotel Steegoversloot** (Small hotel): The place The Stadshotel Steegoversloot occupies a protected building on a street in the historic centre, five minutes' walk from the Statenplein and the museums. It has twelve rooms in a contemporary style, each different: attic rooms with beams, with a balcony or with an open-plan bathroom. On the ground floor is Christa's, the hotel's patisserie and lunch room, with the air of an old-fashioned tearoom. Why stay here Because you sleep inside the centre, with breakfast from the in-house patisserie, from 7:30 to 10:30 (from 8:00 at weekends), and everything on foot: the Grote Kerk, the harbours and the Waterbus at the Merwekade. Getting there and parking From the station, about fifteen minutes on foot. By car, behind the hotel there is a paid car park, at €3.50 an hour; the Q-Park Drievriendenhof, three minutes away, has a reduced rate of €17.50 for 24 hours if you book with the hotel's link, and the one on the Weeskinderendijk costs €1 for the first day, 25 minutes' walk away. - **Hotel Dordrecht** (Hotel): The place Hotel Dordrecht occupies a restored stately house beside the Kalkhaven, one of the harbours west of the centre. The Classic and Superior rooms are in the house, with high ceilings and classic furniture, and two of the Superior ones have a balcony; the Standard and single rooms are in a garden building with direct access from the car park. There is a terrace, the Double Dutch bar, with a good whisky list, and an early breakfast, from 6:00 to 10:00, in a dining room surrounded by paintings. Why stay here For the free parking and the 24-hour reception, uncommon in the centre of a historic city. If you arrive in a hire car from Schiphol, it is the most convenient base: the centre is ten minutes on foot and Rotterdam twenty-five by car. Getting there From the station, about fifteen minutes on foot. By car, you park at the hotel itself. ### Servicios - **Dordrecht Station**: Trains from Amsterdam and Rotterdam; buses 93 and 416 to Kinderdijk leave from platform B. The centre is about fifteen minutes on foot. - **Waterbus Stop at the Merwekade**: The main Waterbus boat stop in Dordrecht, at the Merwekade, where several lines meet; free bikes and contactless payment. ## By car: Dordrecht by Car By car, Dordrecht is a good base for the south of Holland: Rotterdam and Kinderdijk are close, and the De Biesbosch National Park is about 35 minutes away. In the centre, park and walk: the streets are narrow and hourly parking is expensive. The budget includes accommodation, food and entry fees, but not the car. Presupuesto orientativo: 90–160 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir if you're driving - **Stadshotel Steegoversloot** (Small hotel): The place The Stadshotel Steegoversloot occupies a protected building on a street in the historic centre, five minutes' walk from the Statenplein and the museums. It has twelve rooms in a contemporary style, each different: attic rooms with beams, with a balcony or with an open-plan bathroom. On the ground floor is Christa's, the hotel's patisserie and lunch room, with the air of an old-fashioned tearoom. Why stay here Because you sleep inside the centre, with breakfast from the in-house patisserie, from 7:30 to 10:30 (from 8:00 at weekends), and everything on foot: the Grote Kerk, the harbours and the Waterbus at the Merwekade. Getting there and parking From the station, about fifteen minutes on foot. By car, behind the hotel there is a paid car park, at €3.50 an hour; the Q-Park Drievriendenhof, three minutes away, has a reduced rate of €17.50 for 24 hours if you book with the hotel's link, and the one on the Weeskinderendijk costs €1 for the first day, 25 minutes' walk away. - **Hotel Dordrecht** (Hotel): The place Hotel Dordrecht occupies a restored stately house beside the Kalkhaven, one of the harbours west of the centre. The Classic and Superior rooms are in the house, with high ceilings and classic furniture, and two of the Superior ones have a balcony; the Standard and single rooms are in a garden building with direct access from the car park. There is a terrace, the Double Dutch bar, with a good whisky list, and an early breakfast, from 6:00 to 10:00, in a dining room surrounded by paintings. Why stay here For the free parking and the 24-hour reception, uncommon in the centre of a historic city. If you arrive in a hire car from Schiphol, it is the most convenient base: the centre is ten minutes on foot and Rotterdam twenty-five by car. Getting there From the station, about fifteen minutes on foot. By car, you park at the hotel itself. ### Servicios - **Dordrecht Car Parks**: In the centre you pay by the hour; the Weeskinderendijk car park costs €1 for the first 24 hours, 25 minutes on foot from the centre. ## As a family: Dordrecht with Family Dordrecht works well with children for two reasons: the museums are free or almost free for them and the city is surrounded by water, with boats you catch like a bus. ### What works best The Waterbus to the Kinderdijk windmills, €5.20 a day for ages 4 to 11 The Hof van Nederland, with a ball pit and escape game, €2 for ages 4 to 12 The Grote Kerk tower, free up to age 12 The servants' kitchen at Huis Van Gijn, free up to 18 ### Where to stay Stadshotel Steegoversloot, in the centre ### Where to eat De Klander Muelen, open every day Broodcafé Jaap, for breakfast ### Good to know The Grote Kerk and the Dordrechts Museum close on Mondays In November and December the tower is only open on some Saturdays ### Qué hacer as a family - Grote Kerk Dordrecht and Tower Climb - Waterbus from Dordrecht to the Kinderdijk Windmills - Huis Van Gijn, a 19th-Century House as It Was - Hof van Nederland, Where the Country Was Born - Harbours Walk, from the Groothoofdspoort to the Wolwevershaven ## With teenagers: Dordrecht with Teenagers With teenagers, Dordrecht has what a historic city usually lacks: climbing a tower, an escape game in a museum and a fast boat along the rivers to the windmills. And the museums do not charge under-18s, except the Hof, which charges €4. ### What works best The climb up the Grote Kerk tower The escape game at the Hof van Nederland The Waterbus to Kinderdijk, with free bikes on board The Dordrechts Museum, free up to age 18 ### Where to stay Hotel Dordrecht, with 24-hour reception ### Where to eat De Klander Muelen, for sharing plates on the terrace ### Good to know Check the Waterbus and Driehoeksveer timetables the day before ### Qué hacer with teenagers - Grote Kerk Dordrecht and Tower Climb - Waterbus from Dordrecht to the Kinderdijk Windmills - Dordrechts Museum, Six Centuries of Dutch Painting - Hof van Nederland, Where the Country Was Born ## Consejos ### Combine two museums The €22 day ticket covers the Dordrechts Museum with Huis Van Gijn or with the Hof van Nederland. ### Check the Driehoeksveer link The Ridderkerk to Kinderdijk ferry is not part of the Waterbus: check its timetable before you set off. ### Park on the Weeskinderendijk One euro for the first day, 25 minutes on foot from the centre. ### Not on Mondays The Grote Kerk and the Dordrechts Museum are closed. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How do you get from Amsterdam to Dordrecht? By train, direct or with a change at Rotterdam Centraal. The station is about fifteen minutes on foot from the centre. ### Can you go from Dordrecht to Kinderdijk by boat? Yes: Waterbus line 20 from the Merwekade to Ridderkerk and the Driehoeksveer to the windmills. ### How much does it cost to climb the Grote Kerk tower? €4 per person with the church; free up to age 12. ### Do children pay in the museums? At the Dordrechts Museum and Huis Van Gijn, free up to age 18; at the Hof van Nederland, €2 for ages 4 to 12 and €4 for ages 13 to 18. ### Where can you eat on a Sunday? De Klander Muelen is open on Sundays from 11:00 to 22:00. ### Is it worth sleeping in Dordrecht? Yes, to see the harbours at night and combine Kinderdijk and Rotterdam without going back to Amsterdam.