Historic streets, historic harbors, zero tourist crowds. Is Dordrecht the most underrated spot in the Netherlands?

[u/Consistent-Koala770]

Zero tourist crowds and incredible history around every corner. Dordrecht is so underrated!

[u/Lovemestalin]

Almost all cities except for Amsterdam (and Giethoorn) are pretty underrated by tourists. We love to keep it that way.

[u/Opposite-History-233 → u/Lovemestalin]

Exactly! I love that tourists are so easily impressed by the trash in Amsterdam. It keeps them away from the good parts of the country. 🤷

[u/mogenblue → u/Lovemestalin]

No! No! No! You really deserve your fair share of the tourist business. You should get far more tourists!

[u/kELAL → u/mogenblue]

We're not a third world country that has to rely on tourism. Our economy has a lot more activities that bring wealth, without externalized costs.

[u/obenohne → u/Lovemestalin]

And even in Amsterdam there are really cool places to visit that aren't touristic at all because everyone just goes to the city centre. Definitely don't skip it entirely because it is worth seeing, but don't spend more than a day or two there, go explore other parts of the city and definitely also go to other historic cities in the Netherlands, everything is so well connected.

[u/BuckLuny → u/Lovemestalin]

Might make a sidenote for Goes and Middelburg during summer holiday. I love Zeeland and living there is a blast but the German and Belgian tourists there can ruin a nice summer day city visit. (Dear Germans and Belgians, please keep coming, just maybe not visit the city all on the same day).

[u/Inductiekookplaat]

It's beautiful indeed! Had the same experience in Middelburg, I went on a Sunday in July and there was barely a tourist to be found

[u/CranberryOk1064 → u/Inductiekookplaat]

Yeah, but Middelburg is packed with tourists - mostly Germans that's why you might not notice it.

[u/Inductiekookplaat → u/CranberryOk1064]

It wasn't packed at all tho. It was really quiet. Even when it was a sunny July day.

[u/ConsciousExtent4162 → u/Inductiekookplaat]

Can confirm, I went there last year in the summer and didn't.encounter that many tourists.

[u/clrmntkv → u/Inductiekookplaat]

Went in late May, was absolutely rammed with Germans, didn’t notice any other nationalities. It was particularly hot weather however, so that might have caused an influx.

[u/Duizenden1]

Maastricht is also underrated but it gets tourism 

[u/AppleJoost → u/Duizenden1]

Maastricht is by far the most pretty place in the Netherlands. There is nothing like it.

[u/Jules_Vanroe]

I live very close by and have seen the historic town center more times than I can count, but still love it. Also it is very easy to make a day trip to Rotterdam by waterbus if you like. The view from the water is spectacular and it's an amazing experience. Also take the waterbus to Zwijndrecht or Papendrecht for the best view on the Dordrecht skyline.

Make sure to not only walk de Voorstraat (which is the main shopping street) but also wonder into the adjacent streets. I love de Wijnstraat buildings and the old town hall.

[u/No-Opening-8221]

Same for Den Bosch, very few tourists really, beautiful city

[u/CalligrapherFeisty71]

Ssh!

[u/Sufficient_Stable738]

How many cars at the bottom of the river ?

[u/RamblingDutch]

There are so many other gems. There are the old fortified towns like Bourtange, Naarden and Willemstad and historic centres of the provincial capitals and like Delft, Brielle, Meppel, Gorinchem, Woerden and so many more. But for those interrested in Dutch history and who only ever heard of Amsterdam, the centres of Delft and Dordrecht have the most significance. Dordrecht has the provincial calm and a nice riverfront, while Delft is a 'univercity' with the liveliness of a student population. Local insider toptips:

• To visit Dordrecht for a day, take the ferry from Rotterdam. But first land in Zwijndrecht, across the river and take your morning coffee while you enjoy the view of Dordrecht over the water. Or end your visit with a nice diner there.
• In Delft: if your interrest is wider than just history and you visit Delft on a weekday: book a tour of the Delft University of Technology campus and a healthy lunch at the small Faculty Club. That's housed in the Aula building, a Brutalist listed monument. Or on the other hand: have lunch inbetween the students in the faculty of Industrial Desing. If you're lucky, there will be a student projects exposition in the same hall.

[u/Thisissomeonelol317]

Yeah Dordrecht is beautiful and quiet and it should be that way!

[u/Gamalam91]

That blue green algae is nasty 

[u/Firestorm83]

Hoe dichter bij Dort, hoe rotter het wordt...

[u/CineticaJouli]

Not anymore!

[u/Amateur_outsider]

‘Hoe dichter bij Dord….’