The Drechtsteden are a number of towns and cities bordering each other in the delta area of the rivers Oude Maas, Noord, and Beneden-Merwede in the province of South Holland, Netherlands. These cooperate in the Gemeenschappelijke Regeling Drechtsteden, which performs common tasks for the municipalities in the field of economy, development, culture, and social assistance. Collectively, a little more than 250,000 people call one of the towns and cities of Drechtsteden home.
Hardinxveld-Giessendam is a municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. It is located about 10 km east of Dordrecht, on the river Beneden-Merwede. The municipality had a population of 18,413 in 2021 and covers an area of 19.35 km2 (7.47 sq mi) of which 2.44 km2 (0.94 sq mi) is water.
The Beneden Merwede is a stretch of river in the Netherlands, mainly fed by the river Rhine. It starts as the continuation of the Boven Merwede after the branching-off of the Nieuwe Merwede ship canal. It flows from Hardinxveld-Giessendam to Dordrecht, where it splits into the Noord and Oude Maas rivers. Its length is 14.8 km. The river is part of the main shipping route between the port of Rotterdam and the industrial region of the Ruhr, Germany.
The Boven Merwede is a stretch of river in the Netherlands, mainly fed by the river Rhine. The Afgedamde Maas river joins the Waal at Woudrichem to form the Boven Merwede, which at Hardinxveld-Giessendam splits into the Beneden Merwede river on the right and the Nieuwe Merwede river on the left. Its length is 8.8 km (5.5 mi). The Merwede is part of the main shipping route between Rotterdam and Germany.
Dordrecht is a railway station in Dordrecht, Netherlands located on the Breda–Rotterdam railway and the Elst–Dordrecht railway. The station was opened on 1 January 1872, when the railway line between Rotterdam and Antwerp was opened. On 16 July 1885, the railway line from Dordrecht to Gorinchem was opened. The neo-Renaissance railway station building is located to the south of the city centre. Dordrecht is now an important railway station on the Nederlandse Spoorwegen railway network. The services to Gorinchem and Geldermalsen are operated by Arriva.
Gorinchem is a railway station in the town of Gorinchem, Netherlands. It is on the MerwedeLingelijn. It was opened on 1 December 1883. Train services are operated by Qbuzz.
Zuid-Holland Oost is an official region of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands.
The Elst–Dordrecht railway is a railway line in the Netherlands running from Elst to Dordrecht, passing through Tiel, Geldermalsen and Gorinchem. It is also called the Betuwelijn. MerwedeLingelijn is the name of the western part between Dordrecht and Geldermalsen, which is operated by Qbuzz. Tiel - Elst as part of the service Tiel - Arnhem is operated by Arriva and Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) operates Geldermalsen - Tiel as part of the service Utrecht - Tiel. The railway connects to the Arnhem–Nijmegen railway in Elst. There were two connections to the Arnhem–Nijmegen railway in the past from the junction near Vork station; one to Elst and towards Nijmegen connecting near Ressen. The Nijmegen junction was used until 1990 and torn down during construction of the Betuweroute in order of creating a junction between the Betuweroute from Rotterdam and the Arnhem–Nijmegen railway towards both Arnhem and Nijmegen.
Boven-Hardinxveld is a railway station, in Boven-Hardinxveld, Netherlands.
Hardinxveld Blauwe Zoom is a railway station in Hardinxveld-Giessendam, Netherlands. Train services are operated by Qbuzz.
Gorinchem Noord is a planned railway station, in Gorinchem, Netherlands.
De Vlijt or Molen 't Op is a post mill in Koudum, Friesland, Netherlands which was built in 1986 and is working in working order. The mill is listed as a Rijksmonument, number 34081.
The Steenenhoek Canal is a Dutch canal in southeastern Netherlands.
MerwedeLingelijn is the name of the train service in the Netherlands between Geldermalsen and Dordrecht, on the western part of the Elst–Dordrecht railway. Train services were operated by Arriva until 8 Dec 2018, when Qbuzz took over.
De Balkendsterpoldermolen is a smock mill in Alde Leie, Friesland, Netherlands which was built in 1844. The mill has been restored to working order and is designated as being held in reserve. It is listed as a Rijksmonument.
The Klaarkampstermeermolen or Klaarkampstermolen is a polder windmill in Rinsumageast, Friesland, the Netherlands. Built in 1862 the smock mill was relocated to its current position in 1893 and has been restored several times. Worked by volunteers it still drains the Klaarkampstermeer as of 2022. The mill is listed as a Rijksmonument since 1970 and can be visited by appointment.
De Kleine Molen is a smock mill in Stiens, Friesland, Netherlands which was built in 1913 and moved in 1988. The mill is the smallest of its type in the Netherlands. In working order, it is listed as a Rijksmonument.
De Gooyer is a smock mill in Wolvega, Friesland, Netherlands which was built in 1916. It has been restored to working order. It is listed as a Rijksmonument.
Kommer Damen is a Dutch billionaire, and the chairman of the Netherlands-based Damen Shipyards.
J.H. "Henk" de Vree is a Dutch politician, who served on the House of Representatives in the period 2020–21 and from 2023 onwards. There, he represents the right-wing populist Party for Freedom (PVV).
