Try-out: The Dordrecht Museum

It was a long overdue birthday present…. A visit to Dordrecht and the Dordrecht Museum.

We had heard a lot about the splendid renovation (2008 – 2010) by architect Postel

The museum is one of the oldest museums in the Netherlands. It dates from 1842 and it is housed in a former orphanage and pest house, dating from the 17^th century. How nice to be in a building like this. The architect sure has done a perfect job. Just being there is almost enough.

So arriving at the museum after our train trip and seeing the inviting restaurant, we decided to start the day with coffee and a pastry. Sitting in the conservatory it is as if you are sitting outside… but you are not. The restaurant area consists of different spaces and is also a meeting place for cultural activities.

If you have been in the Amsterdam Hermitage then you might notice that the interior design is done by the same designers Merxx and Girot. Their find for this museum are the “jewel boxes” high legged cupboards that contain drawings and prints on paper. You pull a drawer and there is another “jewel” to be admired.

Apart from the beautiful building ...................

................................. there is a good collection of Dutch paintings from over a period of 400 years. The city of Dordrecht was a wealthy city. Part of this wealth was due to the wine trade.

part of a wooden frame once belonging to the Wine guild

Rich citizens donated money or collections to the museum. There are works of The Hague School and Amsterdam Impressionists. The collection has two main focus points: the 19^th century and the 17^th century.

Very special is the large collection of painting from AryScheffer who was born in Dordrecht and later lived in Paris.

We spend a good part of the day looking at the different paintings, drawings, statues etc.

Here just some items….