The Cormorant fish is a reference to the emblemata of Jacob Cats. This singing cormorant also has a fish tail, which refers to the ancient ties of the people of Dordrecht with the water.

It makes the tail into a kind of nest, in which the little chicks, drawn by the children of the Bird-district are sitting.

After the start of the Synod of Dordrecht in 1618 a comet was seen in the sky. Poet Jacob Cats (1577-1660) saw in this not an ominous messenger in turbulent times, as was the prevailing view of comets. According to him, it was a divine sign that disputes could be resolved in a new light.

This emblema tells us everyone has a place in a community. We all have a different background, with many similarities.