This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel.
Dordrecht, Netherlands, is a small Dutch city in the provence of South Holland. The city feels cozy and is rich in cafes and is popular for shopping.
Dutch citizens visit Dordrecht if they want to go somewhere different than the more famous cities like Amsterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, or Rotterdam. The annual Christmas Market is one of the best in Netherlands. Most Dutch citizens visit Dordrecht as a day trip, but you might well like to stay overnight in Dordrecht, because there are a few places worth seeing that are close to Dordrecht. The UNESCO World Heritage Site Kinderdijk is just a short bus or boat ride away from Dordrecht. In Kinderdijk, you can see the windmills at their best in a stunning landscape. You can walk around the area, or rent a bike and explore Kinderdijk the Dutch way. If you are visiting in winter, you might be lucky to explore the area while ice skating when the canals are frozen.
National Park De Biesbosch is also very close to Dordrecht. You can reach the national park by bike or by car; you can also book a boat tour around the national park. De Biesbosch is one of the best places in the Netherlands to explore nature. Go for a walk; book a boat ride; or do it by yourself and go bird watching, fishing, cycling, or canoeing.
Your options for a hostel in Dordrecht, Netherlands, will be extremely limited. What does exist is located outside the city, but has a good access to National Park De Biesbosch. If you do not have access to your own transport or if you prioritize Dordrecht’s city centre over the Biesbosch, a Dordrecht, Netherlands hostel is not ideal for you. In that case, you may want to consider booking a hostel in Rotterdam, which is only fifteen minutes away by train or less than half an hour by the so-called waterbus. The latter offers scenic views and costs approximately the same as the train and you can take your rented bike on board for free.
If you want to see more than just the Netherlands’ main cities, Dordrecht is worth a visit. Book a hostel in Dordrecht, Netherlands, and explore the surrounding nature as well, or just go as a day trip from your hostel in Rotterdam.
Written by local expertz for Dordrecht
Martin Straatman