Storyteller Nicolaas welcomes you in front of the old town hall. From there, he takes you on a walk through the oldest city in Holland. Along the way, he tells stories. No list of dates, no dry history. Far from it: against a backdrop of centuries-old canals and stately facades, you’ll experience the exciting and surprising stories that have unfolded in this city. Along the way, you might just bump into a saint. Or a pirate!
Of course, water plays a major role in the stories. Dordrecht lies at the confluence of three rivers: the Oude Maas, the Beneden Merwede, and the Noord. All that water was good for trade and brought wealth to Dordrecht. The city was allowed to collect tolls from passing ships. And Dordrecht had what was known as the “stapelrecht”: it could require passing merchants to first offer their goods for sale in the city.
So there was a lot of trade, a lot of money in circulation, and a lot of wealth. But the water also posed a threat. In November 1421, the Saint Elizabeth’s Flood put an end to that prosperity. Dordrecht had become an island. Ships could literally bypass the toll.
During the walk, you’ll learn about sheepherders, farmers, peat cutters, salt merchants, the Hoeken, and the Kabeljauwen. As rich in money as the city once was, it remains just as rich in legends and stories.
Tickets can be reserved at:https://storytrail.nl/agenda/theaterwandeling-dordrecht-met-verhalenverteller-hildebrand-2026-03-29-1400/
Photo: StoryTrail storyteller Nicolaas.
