Heritage Days in Dordrecht
On this page you will find information from the 2023 Open Monument Days, 75 monuments opened their doors. As soon as more info is known about the 2024 edition you will see it here.
Theme Living Heritage
The theme of Open Monument Days 2023 is "Living Heritage. Twenty years ago, the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage closed, and we will celebrate this during this edition of the Heritage Days. Living heritage is closely linked to monuments. Consider cultural customs, traditions and crafts that take place in monuments, such as the mill craft in Kyck over the Dyck. Visit openmonumentendag.nl for more information on the theme.
More than 1,000 monuments
Dordrecht is a true city of monuments and counts more than 1,000 monuments. The city was already big in the Middle Ages and developed into the trading and administrative center of Holland, experiencing its own golden age as early as the 14th century. Walking along the inner harbors, the important transshipment goods of the time are still clearly reflected in the street names, as the names Wijnstraat and Wijnhaven betray. During Open Monument Days, many monuments open their doors, extra fun because these monuments are not normally open to visitors.
3 pocket walks
Especially for this edition of the Open Monumentendagen, 3 fun (free) walks have been mapped out. The 'Living Heritage' walk fits in perfectly with this year's theme and provides a glimpse into vanished trades, traditional crafts and the city's past. On the historical catering route you will find the best addresses with a mix of culture and consumption. Extra fun: some participants give special discounts on presentation of the flyer or Dordrecht5D app. Another form of living heritage are trees. Therefore, the Bomenridders have mapped out a beautiful walk along monumental trees for you. You can sign up for a joint walk or follow the route yourself. The walks are available for you at VVV Dordrecht.
Dordrecht 5D app
Dordrecht 5D is an interactive walk through Dordrecht. Wander around past beautifully designed facades, harbors and gates and read about various monuments that fit the theme 'Learning Monument'. Through the app, you can look around Dordrecht and peek inside a number of monuments. The app also features this year's themed walks. The 'Dordrecht 5D' app is
available via the Google Play-and Appstore.
Children's scavenger hunt live doors
Join us on an adventurous scavenger hunt through the city in search of the "living doors. In fact, there are six miniature doors scattered throughout downtown. Each door is based on a monument and reveals a story and a glimpse of our rich past. Can you find them all?
Musical monuments
All weekend you can enjoy special artists who have elevated music making to an art. On Saturday, for example, there is organ music in various churches as part of National Organ Day. Saturday and Sunday is dedicated to musical monuments. Admission is free. Full is full!
VVV walks
Would you like to be informed in even more detail about the history of Dordrecht and its monumental buildings? On Saturdays and Sundays, free guided tours start at VVV Dordrecht. A guide will take you for an hour and a half through all the beauty that Dordrecht has to offer. The walks start on Saturday at 11.15, 12.15 and 13.15 and on Sunday at 12.15, 13.15 and 14.15. Reservations for these walks must be made on the day itself. There is a limited number of spots available.
Front Street North Festival
Saturday, September 9 is the 17th edition of the Voorstraat Noord Festival! This cozy festival is all about art and culture. Between Voorstraat 228 and the end of the Riedijk there are numerous activities on Saturday. Between noon and 11 p.m. you can enjoy art on the street, workshops, children's activities and live music on various stages. Or come to the silent disco on the Nieuwbrug with 14 different DJs with a choice of 3 channels from techno to disco. New this year, the stretch of Voorstraat augustijn is also hosting a stage and various activities. Check out the full program at www.voorstraatnoord.nl.
Cruises ss Pieter Boele
On Saturday and Sunday, you can take a 45-minute cruise on the Pieter Boele between noon and 4 p.m. (every full hour). During the cruise the steam engine can be visited and the enthusiastic volunteers are happy to tell you about this special former Rhine steam tug. Embarkation at the Groothoofd. Cost € 5 p.p., children 4 to 12 years € 3.50.
Cruises with Si Barone
Sirio Barone likes to show you the city from the water. With the classic Italian boat Felicità you sail past the historical highlights of the city on Sundays. Only on Sundays between 10:00 and 15:00, cost €20,- p.p., maximum 12 people. You can sign up at si-barone.nl or drop by at Voorstraat 237
Note: bridge walk canceled
The bridge walk that was scheduled to start at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday from the Prins Claus Bridge, side Stadswerven, has been canceled. With sadness we announce that the guide of this walk, Frits Baarda, unexpectedly passed away. Frits Baarda wrote the book 'Alle 704 bruggen van Dordrecht', on which this walk was based. On behalf of Dordrecht Marketing & Partners, we wish the relatives lots of strength.
Griendexcursion Biesboschcentrum Dordrecht
During the Open Monument Days on September 9 a 10, Biesboschcentrum Dordrecht organizes a special excursion.
Sail with the open whisper boat through the creeks of the Biesbosch and disembark at the original historic griendmuseumpad. The Griendmuseumpad is a nature island with a rich cultural history. In the Biesbosch many grienden workers used to live and work. In the osier they cut willow branches during the winter months. Wicker workers were often away from home for a whole week, during which time they lived in wicker huts. On the Museum Trail there is an original stone hut where you will be welcomed by a real wicker worker who will tell you all about the hard work of the wicker workers. Then you walk back along a beautiful nature trail and pass two more former wicker chains, completing the historical story. A real dive into the past of the Biesbosch!
City walk hidden pearls
During an interactive and surprising city walk you will discover the most beautiful stories and hidden places of the city. The walk is an interactive experience with an enthusiastic guide, so no boring enumeration of facts or years. Especially for the Open Monuments Days this walk is free. After the Free Walking Tour you decide what you think the walk is worth. Sunday, September 10, 12:00 / 14:00 / 16:00. Start: Voorstraat 276. Sign up via ontdekdordrecht.com or at Hallo Dordrecht at Voorstraat 276.
Ugly heritage walk
Especially for the Open Monumentendagen 2023, the Vakteam Erfgoed of Gemeente Dordrecht organizes a free guided tour along 'ugly heritage' on Saturday, September 9. The walk starts at 11 a.m. and at 2 p.m. in front of the entrance to the City Office at Spuiboulevard 300. The registration form can be found at the bottom of this page.
The "modern" architecture between 1965 to 1990 often raises the question of how we could ever have built something like this. Although these buildings may not be wonderfully beautiful, future heritage can also be recognized in them. Join a guided tour by Vakteam Erfgoed Gemeente Dordrecht and experience a very different kind of heritage!
National Organ Day
On Saturday there is always a little extra attention for the organs in Dordrecht. Rightly so, because it is National Organ Day again. Since 2002, it has been organized simultaneously with the Open Monumentendagen (Heritage Days). On www.nation aleorgeldag.nl you can read all the interesting facts. Organ music can be heard in the Wilhelminakerk, Augustijnenkerk and Grote Kerk.
