Gouda in Holland
Gouda is a city in the Dutch province Zuid Holland and is situated northeast of Rotterdam where the rivers Gouwe and Hollandse Ijssel meet. The city of Gouda counts over 73,000 residents and can look back on about 750 years of history. The city rights were granted in 1272.
What is Gouda famous for?
Gouda is first and foremost famous for its cheese that is sold under the trade name "Gouda". Gouda is amongst the few cities in Holland that still have a traditional cheese market which is held on the grand market square between April and August every Thursday between 1000h and 1300h. The Gouda Cheese & Crafts Market is the major attraction the city has to offer. As is the case in other Dutch cheese production areas, the cheese is no longer traded on the market square. It a show for the local population and tourists who like the scene.
What are the top attractions in Gouda?
The top attraction in Gouda are as listed below:
- The Old City Hall at the Grand Market Square
- The Waag (The weigh house at the northern end of the market square)
- The Grote St. Jans Kerk or Great Saint John Church just about 50 metres outside the market square
- The Museum Gouda
- The Verzetsmuseum covering the Dutch resistance during WW II
- The Museumhaven Gouda
- The Goudse Schouwburg
- The Waaiersluis (=the Waaier Locks on the river Hollandse Ijssel east of Gouda)
When thinking about cheese you might find yourself thinking about the label "Gouda", and the City of Gouda is what gave the cheese its name. Having been there some 30 years ago, I found it high time to be back to see the place again.
When I was last there, on a Thursday, they had actually their cheese market up and running. This time it was a Sunday - again - and no such thing as a cheese market was there.
Trust me, they still do the cheese market, still on a Thursday morning, in the fashion of the early days. Then they place their cheese on the market place and sell the product. Today it is only for the tourists, and only between April and August.
Gouda Map Location and Route Planner
Gouda Old City Hall
De Goudse Waag
Museum Gouda
Hof van Sint Jan
Grote St. Jans Kerk
The Grote St. Jans Kerk (=Great Saitn John Church) in Gouda is the biggest church in town and belongs to the top sights of the city. However, the building is huge and surrounded by small buildings in narrow lanes; meaning, it is more or less useless trying to get a panorama shot of the building. At least not if you are only passing through. Anyway, for the time being here are some images showing at least a bit of the church.
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