Leaving our dock in Antwerp, we set sail for Dordrecht in the Netherlands.
The Monarch Queen stopped along the way so passengers on the optional Delta Works tour could disembark.
We arrived in Dordrecht about noon on a rainy, grey day. But we still had an awesome time!
Optional Delt Works Tour
The tour offers an optional visit to the Delta Werks (Deltawerken).
Delt Works is an enormous engineering project comprising dams, locks, and storm surge barriers. It protects against flooding from the North Sea.
We heard it was incredible, but touring a facility and looking at its engineering isn’t our cup of tea.
A couple we met on the ship went and had an incredible time. They were also kind enough to bring us back a book about the works, which looks really interesting.
Dordrecht
Upon arriving in Dordrecht, we disembarked for a walking tour and some free time to explore on our own.
Dordrecht embraces its rich history as a trading center. It is also known for hosting the first meeting of the States of Holland in 1572, which led to the founding of the Netherlands.
It has a beautiful, very active waterfront, as well as some incredible buildings that appear to lean forward as they turn the corner.
Lots of boats used by resdients for recreation.
Some boats are vintage or replicas of older boats.
Lots of historic houses.
Beautiful sidewalk gardens.
Amazing decoritive elements on historic homes.
Are these wreckage from ships or modern art installations?
The canals flow directly under some of the homes and businesses.
Yes, they really lean as much as they apear to.
There is a windmill right in the middle of Dordrecht.
Street Art
We love seeing interesting street art, which some see as graffiti; we enjoy it because it is usually very colorful and thought-provoking.
Here’s a brief sample of what we saw in Dordrecht.
Not sure exactly what it is , but it’s very cool!
We don’t think the lamb liked us!
Bak to somewhere!
This was painted in someone’s back patio.
Fun Fact
The painting directly above this is called “De Grachtwacht” or The Canal Guard. It showcases five historical figures born in Dordrecht, including Cornelis de Witt, Ary Scheffer, Johan de Witt, Albert Cuyp, and Ferdinand Bol.
It was created by artists Frans Kromeich and Rob van Kooten.
Free Time
We had a bit of free time, and it was still raining off and on. We did a little shopping, but at 10:30 in the morning, not much was open. So we ended up stopping for a snack.
Poffertjes are a traditional Dutch snack. They are small yeast-based pancakes. These sweet treats are usually served with powdered sugar and butter.
So when we found Vissert’s, which has been making poffertjes since 1932, we had to stop.
We got really lucky because we walked in just as a tour group of about twenty people was leaving. They asked us to wait a minute while they straightened up, and then we were seated promptly.
It felt like stepping back in time, a time capsule of ninety years as a community gathering spot. While poffertjes and coffee are a major draw, it appears they also serve sandwiches and cocktails, host live music in the evenings, and offer special themed nights.
We ordered a plate of sixteen poffertjes, tea, and coffee. Now that we had the place to ourselves, we walked over to watch them make our poffertjes.
Our plate of delicious poffertjes.
Mark’s cappuccino with a delicious speculoos cookie.
It appears the griddle may be original, as it looks well-loved. No matter its age, they create delicious, light traditional treats, available in platters of 16, 24, or 36 in a variety of forms. We could have eaten A LOT!
GBD, Golden Brown and Delicious.
If your journey brings you to Dordrecht, be sure to check this place out!
Returning to the Monarch Queen
After our walk around Dordrecht, we returned to the ship for a quick snack and a drink before heading out on our tour at 3:00 PM.
Kinderdijk
About a twenty-minute ride from where the Monarch Queen was docked lies the village of Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Kinderdijk is in the Netherlands’ South Holland province and is renowned for its 16th-century windmills.
The historic village has footpaths, bike trails, and waterways that we’ve explored throughout the area, including working windmills, a small museum, and a visitor center.
And because no trip to the Netherlands is complete without visiting windmills, we dove in headfirst. A walk and a boat ride gave us plenty of photo ops.
The obligatory selfie.
There were plenty of raised walkways.
We wandered through the paths to get to the tour boat.
Views from our tour boat.
The boats got us close to the windmills.
It’s amazing how these work.
This sculpture is called Beatrice’s Cradle or Cat on the Cradle. It commemorates a local legend surrounding the 1421 St. Elizabeth’s flood. Rumor has it that the cat jumped back and forth on the cradle, keeping it balanced.
We love unique sculptural pieces.
We saw most of the 19 windmills, explored one set up as it would have been in the 16th century, when a family would have lived in it, operated the windmill, and farmed the land around it.
Supply storage and a wall oven.A wonderful workshop kept things running.Several children would have slept here.A wonderful garden.
We capped off this damp, rainy visit with a delicious cup of hot chocolate at the visitors’ center.
Perfect for a cool, wet, grey Dutch day.
Random Weird Stuff
Just outside the area where you explore life in a windmill were the ticket booth, a bathroom, and a modern vending machine selling bright yellow wooden shoes!
This seriously blew our minds.
Our Night Onboard Ship
Returning to the MS Monarch Queen, we enjoyed cocktails with friends as our Cruise Director, Slavka, shared her Port Talk about our next destination. A nightly tradition.
This was followed by dinner, and we returned to the Lounge, where our Activities Host, Keira, showcased her singing chops by performing some of her favorite songs from popular movies and musicals.
Tomorrow we arrive in the town of Enkhuizen and at the Zuiderzee Museum. We can’t wait to share our experiences there!
