Page 246 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

244  WESTERN NE THERLANDS

r Gorinchem y Dordrecht
Road Map C4. * 35,000. £ Road Map B4. * 118,600. £ n
n Grote Markt 17 (0183-631525). Spuiboulevard 99 (0900-4636888). (
( Mon am. ∑ vvvgorinchem.nl Tue am, Fri & Sat. ∑ vvvdordrecht.nl
Gorinchem, situated on the Linge The oldest town in Holland,
and the Waal, was the property of Dordrecht received its city
the Lords van Arkel in the 13th charter in 1220 and was the
century. They were driven out by most important harbour and
Count William VI and the town commercial town of the region
was then absorbed into Holland. until the 1500s. Even after being
Fortifications built at the end of outstripped by Rotterdam,
the 16th century are still partially Dordrecht remained an impor-
intact and offer marvellous views tant inland port. In the old port
over the water meadows and the area, mansions, warehouses and
Waal. Of the four town gateways, Glass blower in Leerdam almshouses are reminders of
only the Dalempoort remains. the past. The Grote Kerk (13th
The Linge harbour, in the heart of t Leerdam to 17th century), in the Brabant
the town, is still mostly authentic, Road Map C4. * 20,000. £ Gothic style, has an ornate
especially the narrow part. interior. Huis Simon van Gijn,
n Sundsvall 2 (0345-614960).
( Thu am, Sat pm. ∑ vvvleerdam.nl in the period rooms of an 18th-
Environs century house, has a collection
On the other side of the Waal is Leerdam is renowned for its of old prints, clothes and toys.
the 14th-century Slot Loevestein. glass industry. Royal Dutch The shady Hof (court of justice)
It has a very eventful history as a Glass Factory designs by (1512) contains the Statenzaal
toll castle, a defence point along Berlage, Copier and other (state room), where the States
the Hollandse Waterlinie (a strip artists can be admired in the of Holland met for the first
of land flooded as a defence line, Nationaal Glasmuseum time in 1572, thus laying the
see p201) and a state prison in the (national glass museum), and foundation of the independent
17th century. From Gorinchem, traditional crystal production Republic of the Netherlands.
the castle can be reached by can be observed at Royal
ferry, changing at Woudrichem. Leerdam Kristal. Fort Asperen, R Grote Kerk
on the Linge, is one of the Lange Geldersekade 2. Tel 078-614
P Slot Loevestein best-preserved defence points 4660. Open Apr–Oct:10:30am–
Poederoijen. Tel 0183-447171. remaining along the Nieuwe 4:30pm Tue–Sat, noon–4pm Sun;
Nov & Dec: 2–4pm Tue, Thu & Sat.
Open May, Jun & Sep: 11am–5pm Hollandse Waterlinie (see p201). 8 Apr–Oct: 2:15pm Thu & Sat. =
Tue–Sun; Jul & Aug: 11am–5pm ∑ grotekerk-dordrecht.nl
daily; Oct–Apr: 11am–5pm Sat & Sun. E Nationaal Glasmuseum
Closed 1 Jan, Good Friday, 27 Apr, Lingedijk 28. Tel 0345-614960. P Hof and Statenzaal
25 Dec. & - = g May, Jun & Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sat, Hof 6. Tel 078-7705250. Open 11am–
Sep: Tue–Sun; Jul & Aug: daily; Oct– noon–5pm Sun. & = 5pm Tue–Sun. Closed 25 Dec, 1 Jan.
Apr: weekends. ∑ slotloevestein.nl ∑ nationaalglasmuseum.nl ∑ hethofvannederland.nl

A group of windmills at Kinderdijk, for centuries draining water from the Alblasserwaard
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp397–8 and pp410–11

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