Dordrecht Wolwevershaven with the Willem-Marie Netherlands

Via the Damiatebrug we cross the Wolwevershaven. The name of this quay is directly derived from the neighbouring harbour with the same name. Not so strange when you consider that the soil we're walking on comes from this harbour. The harbour was dug in 1609 to connect the Nieuwe Haven with the river to improve the flow and thus prevent silting up. The harbour and quay thus came to lie outside the safe walled city. Protection was found by constructing the Damiate stronghold as a defence on the tip of the new land. Furthermore the area was protected by an earthen wall with a row of wooden posts -so called palisade- and some detached towers. Later, the newly reclaimed area was mainly used for trade. Large warehouses were built here. A good example can be seen here. One of the most beautiful is the Stokholm warehouse. This building was originally built as a sugar refinery in 1730 by the Swede Johan Anthony Bruin. Hence probably the name "Stokholm". Much later the building was used for storing grains and seeds.