Utrecht Path

On the third leg of the Utrecht Path, from Cothen to Leersum, we followed the Kromme Rijn to Wijk bij Duurstede, once the location of Dorestad. Dorestad functioned as a trading center between the sixth and ninth centuries (for comparison, Amsterdam became important in the 13th century), with trading routes to Scandinavia, England, and France. Dorestad was the gateway to the Frankish Empire, where they traded with various North Sea peoples, such as the English, Danes, and Frisians. The downtown area in Wijk bij Duurstede reminded us of its rich history.