Gouda: tips for exploring the medieval city of cheese

The beautiful medieval city centre of Gouda has a glorious past. With its beautiful façades, canals, courtyards and one of the most iconic cheese markets in the world, Gouda is truly a charming and authentically Dutch city. Haggle for a bargain at the Gouda cheese market, shop around in the city’s colourful streets or have a drink on one of the many inviting terraces.

Gouda has had official city rights since 1272, making it an older city than even Amsterdam or Rotterdam. It's one of the things that makes this city stand out. Gouda has a glorious past steeped in a host of trades from days gone by. Trades that are now almost part of cultural heritage but still define the face of the city. From local beers and ceramics to stroopwafels and, of course, world-famous Gouda Cheese: you can see and learn all about these fantastic products in Gouda.

Visit the Kamphuisen Siroopwafelfabriek to learn all about the production of stroopwafels or discover the world of Gouda cheese at the Gouda Cheese Experience. Wander through the streets around the Sint-Janskerk, famous for its 72 stained-glass windows, and imagine yourself in the Middle Ages. At a length of 123 metres, it’s also the longest church in the Netherlands. And make sure not to miss the city hall in the middle of the Markt square. It’s the oldest Gothic city hall in the Netherlands and looks like something straight out of a fairytale.

A visit to Gouda soon reveals a city of water. The old city centre is surrounded and traversed by gorgeous canals. So hop on a SUP or a canoe and explore Gouda from the water. Where else could you navigate underneath houses in the oldest part of the city?

Not in the mood for paddling? Then climb aboard a boat for a tour of the canals with Reederij de IJsel or Bootje Kaas. Along the way, the skipper will tell you interesting facts about the city’s past and present. Prefer to determine your own route and explore at your own pace? Hop on a sustainable e-chopper bike and tour Gouda and its surrounding areas. Gouda is located in The Groene Hart (Green Heart), which makes it an excellent base for trips into nature areas such as the peaceful rural region of Krimpenerwaard.

Get a taste of Gouda

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Gouda Cheese Market

The iconic Gouda Cheese Market is still the place where farmers and traders haggle over the finest cheeses. It's absolutely worth a visit but note that the market is only held every Thursday morning from April until August.

Read more on welcometogouda.com
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Beer cafés and breweries

During the Middle Ages, Gouda was considered the premier beer city in the Netherlands. Around the year 1470, the city was home to a staggering 200 breweries that produced 15 million litres of beer per year. These days, production doesn't scale those heights but there are still many cafés where you can enjoy some lovely locally crafted beers. Here's a list.

Read more on welcometogouda.com
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LIZZ at the Relais & Châteaux Weeshuis Hotel Gouda

Restaurant LIZZ bagged its first Michelin star in 2023. Chef Remco Kuijpers cooks the most heavenly dishes. The restaurant is located in the beautiful courtyard of a magnificent monumental building in the oldest part of Gouda. This place absolutely exudes history.

Read more on wshs.nl
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Lichtfabriek Gouda restaurant

Located in a former historic factory building, its high ceilings, industrial elements and huge windows make the Lichtfabriek Gouda a venue with a unique atmosphere, where light still plays an important role.

Read more on welcometogouda.com
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Casa Chow

Find the best spot for street food smack dab in the middle of Gouda! Casa Chow comes with its own tropical vibe. This is the place to be for your daily dose of street food, from nachos to sushi and ceviche to frietje rendang (French fries with Indonesian-style meat). With its recognisable yellow façade, you can’t miss it!

Read more on welcometogouda.com
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Museumcafé

The former Catharina Hospital is now home to both Museum Gouda and the Museumcafé. The latter has a hidden terrace in a beautiful garden, overlooking the imposing Sint-Janskerk. The Museumcafé is a hidden gem located in the cellar vault of one of Gouda's most beautiful monumental buildings.

Read more on museumcafegouda.nl
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The Kleischuur

Clay used to be delivered here to be used in the Gouda pottery factories. Today, the kitchen uses local and organic produce. The result? An unadulterated flavour experience on a plate. Enjoy lovely, high-quality dining.

Read more on welcometogouda.com

Gouda was voted the most bee-friendly municipality in the Netherlands in 2023. This isn’t so surprising considering it has more than its fair share of nature and greenery, such as the city parks of Houtmansplantsoen, Singelpark, Vroesentuin and the Van Bergen IJzendoornpark. On the fringes of the city you will find the Steinse Groen, and a little further away the unique Reeuwijkse Plassen nature reserve.

Gouda may be a city of history and old trades, but that does not mean it doesn’t also look towards the future. In fact, The New York Times recently praised Gouda as one of 52 cities in the world wanting to be part of 'a positive change with regard to sustainability’. It even called the city 'an ideal starting point for a car-free holiday in the Netherlands'.

Take the train or bus to Kinderdijk, famous for its impressive row of windmills along the river. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it offers stunning Dutch scenery. A short train ride away you will find Rotterdam, known for its modern architecture. Some notable sights include the Market Hall, the Erasmus Bridge and the harbour.

The city is easily reached by train; for example, there is a good connection to Rotterdam, which is convenient for visitors travelling by Eurostar from England, France and Belgium, among others. You can also reach Utrecht and The Hague in just 20 minutes and Amsterdam in less than an hour.

The compact city centre also lends itself to exploration on foot. Gouda is the proud home of the first Fairtrade Street in the Netherlands, where you will find a large concentration of sustainable entrepreneurs: from clothes shops to vegan lunch cafés, it's all here! During your walk, visit Museum Gouda with its interactive scale model of the city, unique militia group portraits, Gouda pottery known as Gouds Plateel and a decent selection of changing exhibitions. Afterwards, go for a drink in one of the inviting bars and restaurants to round off a great day.

Green tips in Gouda

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Sustainable shopping and dining in Gouda

Do you love sustainable shopping and dining? Gouda is home to a wide range of shops selling vintage clothes and other items. Have a look around Love4yourcloset or visit Studio Kiewie to finish the day with a healthy organic vegan meal.

Read more on welcometogouda.com
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The best vegan restaurants in Gouda

From vegan food bar Miss Nice Banana to the marvellous lunch bar Your Foodprint: Gouda is home to many sustainable, vegan restaurants. This list is sure to whet your appetite! Tip: if you’re craving a little snack, check out the organic French fries from Pomms’.

Read more on www-vegareizen-nl.translate.goog
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The most beautiful city parks

Enjoy lush greenery right in the middle of the historic city centre: the Singelpark, Houtmansplantsoen, Vroesentuin or the green wadi behind the historic Waag – relax on a bench and enjoy the tranquillity of these surprisingly green spots.

Read more on komoot.com
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Cheeseless walk

American expat Karen offers tips for remarkable places in Gouda on her blog. If you’ve had enough of cheese for a while, she has some good advice on ‘things to do that aren’t cheesy’. This walk is a fresh, interesting alternative.

Read more on wanderlustingk.com
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Dino Experience Park

Go really far back in time at the Dinopark. It's perfect for kids but can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages. Come face to face with more than 70 dinosaurs at the Dinopark, dig up an actual dinosaur skeleton, search for gold and gems and relax at the Dino cinema. It makes for a great day of fun.

Read more on welcometogouda.com
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Visit an art gallery

Do you love art? Gouda has plenty of unusual galleries, with a very wide range of subjects and styles to suit all tastes. For instance, there is a hat studio, an 'eclectic' gallery and a studio where you can find artisan plateel ceramics.

Read more on welcometogouda.com

Behind the Museumhaven is the Hollandse Ijssel river. The Gein and Korne ferries take you to Gouda's industrial hotspot: GOUDasfalt. Here you'll not only find the city beach and restaurant Gouwestrand, but also a marvellous combination of creative and sustainable entrepreneurs like Vuigmakers, a trendy company that tries to find new uses for waste. Because who wouldn’t want to turn an old bicycle tyre into a cool belt?

If you’ve worked up a thirst, be sure to try the craft beers from Brouwerij 1923. Looking for something quirky and rather cool? At the typemachinefabriek you can not only see or buy lots of old typewriters, but you can also bring your old model for service and repairs.

Museumhavenkwartier

A slightly more traditional hidden gem is the attractive Museumhavenkwartier, with one place close to the Mallegatsluis that is particularly worth a visit. This museum harbour is home to the shipyard, the old skipper's waiting room and many historical ships. Fun fact: some of these ships are still occupied by families and households. You can admire different types of ships, including old cargo ships, tugs and even a historic steamboat. It paints a vivid picture of what shipping used to look like. In addition, events and activities are often organised at the Museum Harbour, making it a vibrant and interesting place to visit.

Visitors on the outdoor terrace of IJsselhuis in Gouda

Hidden gems

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Windmills

You wouldn't expect windmills in a city, right? Gouda actually has four, including one where you can still buy traditionally ground flour.

Read more on welcometogouda.com
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Xplore Gouda App

Fancy a nice stroll but no idea where to start? The Xplore Gouda App is there to help you choose from several shopping routes, walks along historic places in Gouda and much more. Downloads are available for iOS and Android.

Read more on welcometogouda.com
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Spot the cheesemakers

In 2022, Gouda celebrated its 750th anniversary as a city. 'Gouda750' was the inspiration for a unique project: 50 life-sized concrete statues of female cheesemakers were painted and decorated by local artists, companies and organisations. Some have found new homes – in Nagasaki, among other places – but you can still discover many of them scattered around the city.

Read more on maps.app.goo.gl
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Gouda bij Kaarslicht

Gouda bij Kaarslicht (Gouda by Candlelight) is one of the oldest festivals of light in the Netherlands, with activities including the Winterfair, concerts, performances and shows. At night, 1,500 candles are lit in the windows of the old city hall on Markt Square and thousands more in the windows of monumental buildings in the city centre. Keep an eye on the site for the exact date.

Read more on goudabijkaarslicht.nl
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Spa Gouda

This unique city spa is located in a beautiful Amsterdam School-style building. It's an oasis of peace and quiet right in the middle of the city centre. People used to bathe here in the old days when a bathroom in your home was not common. Nowadays it's a hidden gem for a day of total pampering and relaxation.

Read more on spagouda-nl.translate.goog
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5 unique accommodations

Looking for accommodation in Gouda? The Orange Backpack weblog has compiled a nice overview of unique places to stay. Options include sleeping in a water tower or in a charming, stylish building from 1687.

Read more on theorangebackpack.nl