Dordrecht oude haven

Why the Wolwevershaven works

Dordrecht is the oldest city in Holland, and you feel it the moment you arrive. The Wolwevershaven is one of the most beautiful historic harbours in the country, with seventeenth-century warehouses standing tight along the water. Reflections, brick textures, old quay walls, it is all here. For street and urban photography, you need very little warm-up time to come away with strong images.

What makes it particularly interesting is that the Wolwevershaven sits at a junction of waterways. You can shoot in multiple directions and always have a different backdrop. The warehouses remain largely intact, without too much modern development breaking up the scene.

The best light

The blue hour is a classic here. Just before sunrise or shortly after sunset, the sky turns deep blue while the warm glow of street lamps and lit facades catches the water. That contrast between cool and warm light gives the shot an immediate atmosphere. Arrive early, because the blue hour is only truly at its best for a few minutes.

During the day, overcast conditions work better than bright sun. Direct sunlight creates hard shadows between the warehouses and produces difficult contrast. A grey sky gives you even light that lets you capture the texture of the facades properly.

Composition and focal length

A wide to mid-range lens works well along the quay, somewhere between 24mm and 50mm. You want to show the warehouses in their surroundings without distorting them. For reflections, get low, preferably almost at quay-wall height. A tripod is not a luxury at blue hour.

Pay attention to the boats in the harbour. An old wooden vessel or a historic dinghy in the foreground gives the scene immediate context and depth.

Practical

You can park near the Groothoofd, within walking distance of the Wolwevershaven. At weekends the centre is busier, but you will find tourists and passers-by on weekdays too. The harbour is publicly accessible and you do not need a permit for ordinary photography. In summer, historic ships are sometimes moored there, which opens up extra possibilities. In winter it is quieter, and mist sometimes hangs over the water, which can produce beautiful results.

Sources and further reading

• Gemeente Dordrecht
• VVV Dordrecht, Bezoek Dordrecht
• Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, Dordrecht
• Wikipedia: Wolwevershaven Dordrecht