Gouda

Gouda is a city in the province South-Holland in The Netherlands. It is a typical Dutch city with many old buildings, canals and pretty sights, and is a popular destination for a day trip. It is also a good base for exploring the rest of the Netherlands, thanks to its great rail- and highway connections. The city is famous for its cheese, its 15th-century town hall and the amazing glass windows in St. Janskerk, but there is a lot more to see and do.

Understand

Gouda has a population of about 71,000. As well as its cheese, Gouda is also famous for its stroopwafels (syrup waffles), candles and its clay pipes. Most of the city is below sea level. The lowest point of the Netherlands can be found a few kilometres outside the city and is marked by a monument.

Gouda is pronounced GHOW-da (IPA: [ˈɣʌudaː]), with the 'g' pronounced similarly to the 'ch' in 'loch' but voiced in the throat instead of mouth, not with a hard 'g' like how native English speakers pronounce the name of the cheese. The "ou" sound should rhyme with cow or the German haus. Saying the name correctly will win you points with the locals!

History

Gouda is named after the river Gouwe and the Van der Goude family, who built a castle on the Gouwe River in the 11th century. At that time, the area was swampland. Over the next two hundred years peat was collected and the land was developed. In 1225, a canal was built connecting the Gouwe River with the Oude Rijn (part of the Rhine delta). This was used to help ship goods to France and further afield. This provided a safer route than traveling by sea. This resulted in a surge of economic activity around Gouda and the town gained importance. In 1272, it was declared a city by count Floris V. Most of the canals were built around this time.

Over the years, there have been fires (1361, 1438), occupations (1572) and plagues (1574, 1625, 1636, 1673). In 1577, the castle was destroyed. Despite these disasters, Gouda is still a beautiful place to visit.

In 1667 a tax was introduced on the locally produced cheese. This raised a lot of money for the town. In 1668, the Waag (cheese weighing house) was built, to weigh the cheese and collect this tax.

Get in

By train

There are two train stations in Gouda:

For the timetable check NS (in English).

Trains have been running between Gouda and Utrecht since 1855; in 1944 the old train station was damaged by Allied bombing.

There are five ways to travel to Gouda by train.

  • Utrecht CS - takes less than 20 minutes. Take a train in the direction of Rotterdam or The Hague. Six trains an hour.
  • The Hague and Rotterdam - takes less than 20 minutes. Take a train towards Utrecht. Gouda is right in the middle of these train lines. Eight trains an hour.
  • Amsterdam - takes 40–60 minutes, depending on where in Amsterdam you are. There is one slow direct train ('Sprinter') per hour. It is also possible to take the intercity train to Utrecht and transfer there, which takes about the same time.
  • Leiden - take the train to Alphen aan den Rijn and from there you can take a train to Gouda. Before and after working hours, there are direct trains running from Leiden to Gouda.

When you arrive at the train station, take the exit called "Centrumzijde" or just "Centrum". There should be a sign pointing you to the city centre. If you can't find it, just go the way most people go and you will be in the city centre very soon.

If you want to take a taxi, there will most likely be drivers waiting for customers. They will pick up you up on the street outside the station. If there aren't any taxis around, you can call them.

By bus

Buses stop at the train station. Most of them are operated by Arriva, some of them by Connexxion.

There are buses connecting Gouda with Rotterdam, Utrecht, Zoetermeer, Leiden, Waddinxveen, Bodegraven, Schoonhoven, Reeuwijk-Brug and some more towns.

Buses are slower and more expensive than trains. If you have the option, choose the train.

By car

Gouda is on the A12 and A20.

Parking is cheapest in one of the large parking lots just outside the city center (about €1.40-1.80 per hour, max €8-10 per day). They are called Klein Amerika, Schouwburgplein and Vossenburchkade and are well indicated. There are two public garages in the city center, called Bolwerk and Nieuwe Markt. These are located closer to the interesting part of the city, but are also a bit more expensive (about €12 a day). It is not advised to park on the streets because that's really expensive.

By plane

The nearest airports are in Amsterdam (Schiphol Airport) and Rotterdam (Rotterdam The Hague Airport).

By boat

There are no ferry or waterbus services to Gouda, but when you own a boat, there are facilities to stay in Gouda. More information can be found at Welkom in Gouda.

Get around

The city centre of Gouda, like many other historic Dutch cities, is surrounded by a circular canal. The city only started to expand beyond this circle in the late 19th century, so most historic sights can be found within it. It is also the main shopping district of the city.

By foot

The centre of Gouda is easy to walk around. Most of the streets are pedestrianized. The main shopping street, Kleiweg, is pedestrianized and bike free. At the centre of Gouda and the end of Kleiweg is the central square of the city, called Markt. The Stadhuis and De Waag are here, and this is where the weekly cheese market takes place.

By bike

If you want to travel outside the centre of Gouda, biking is a good option. At the tourist office, staff can tell you the most interesting routes to cycle, both within the city as well as the immediate surroundings (Groene Hart). Most of the streets in the centre are bike friendly, the main exception being Kleiweg. You can walk along this street with your bike, just don't cycle. As you would expect in a Dutch city, there are lots of bicycle parking opportunities. Make sure you lock it. Bike theft is very common in the Netherlands.

Bikes can be rented from:

  • 🌍 NS Rijwielshop Gouda, Stationsplein 10 (on the north side of the train station), ☏ +31 182-516 111. To rent a bike you need ID and to pay a deposit. Booking is essential. 
  • 🌍 Rep.26, Nieuwehaven 147 (in the city centre), ☏ +31 182-68 97 53. 

By taxi

See

Gouda is a typical and beautiful Dutch town. It's a great place to walk, checking out the old buildings and canals.

  • 🌍 Stadhuis (Old Town hall), Markt 1 (Center of the Markt), ☏ +31 182-588482. M-F 10:00-12:00, 14:00-16:00; Sa 11:00-16:00 (15:00 Oct-Mar). The old town hall on the Markt square is the oldest Gothic town hall in The Netherlands. Built out of sand stone between 1448 and 1450, it is now a museum and wedding location and is open to visitors. €1.50. 
  • 🌍 The Cheese Market and De Waag (Cheese Weighing House). Every Thursday morning in from April to August, there is a traditional cheese market. The building where the cheese used to be weighed (De Waag) is a typical example of neoclassical Dutch architecture from the 17th century and now hosts a small cheese museum. De Waag is opened 1 Apr-31 Oct: Tu-Su 13:00-17:00, Th 10:00-17:00. Check out the cheese market, eat some cheese, see the old cheese weighing house, built by Pieter Post in 1668, now a museum to (you guessed it) cheese! Adult €3.50, child €3. 
  • 🌍 St. Janskerk (St. John’s Church), Achter de Kerk 16, ☏ +31 182-514119, . This church is famous for its beautiful stained glass windows and is a must see. It is the longest (not tallest) church in the Netherlands. The area around the church is the oldest and probably the most beautiful part of town. 
  • 🌍 Museum Gouda (Gouda Museum), Achter de Kerk 14 (entrance next to the St. Janskerk. Pass through the small gate.), ☏ +31 182-331000, . W-F 10:00-17:00, Sa Su 12:00-17:00. Museum about the history of Gouda. There are displays of paintings, archaeology, old clay pipes and pottery. Information and guided tours are available in English. There is a massive scale model of the city in the 16th century. Over 18 €5, under 18:free. 
  • 🌍 Museumhaven Gouda (Gouda Harbor Museum). This museum tracks the history of Gouda harbour and shipbuilding. There are also some old ships and buildings to see. All information is in Dutch. 
  • 🌍 Verzetsmuseum Zuid-Holland (The Resistance Museum), Turfmarkt 30. Museum about the Dutch resistance in World War II. Article info and guided tours available in English. Adult: €3, child: free, concession: €2. 
  • 🌍 The Vier Gekroonden, Naaierstraat 6. One of the oldest remaining brick houses in Gouda. 
  • Canals. There are various canals in the city centre. They are lined by historic houses. A visit to Gouda is not complete without taking a relaxing walk along the canals! .
  • 🌍 Gouwe. This canal is actually an old river, the one that gave Gouda its name. The canal is dominated by the 80-m tower of the Gouwekerk (Gouwe church) 
  • 🌍 Haven. One side of the canal is called Oosthaven, the other is called Westhaven. The buildings along this canal were built by the patriarchy of the city in the 17th and 18th century. 
  • 🌍 Turfmarkt. The quays of this canal are extremely low. It is lined by interesting historic buildings. 
  • 🌍 Peperstraat. Charming little canal lined by old warehouses that were converted to houses. 
  • Windmills. There are four windmills (two of them in the city centre) remaining in Gouda. 

🌍 Old cemetery, Prins Hendrikstraat 3. In the 1970s, this graveyard was abandoned, but the graves are still there, covered in tall grass. It's a little bit eerie, but also a very beautiful place to visit. free. 

Do
  • Canal Tour (Rederij de IJsel). There are not as many canal boats as in Amsterdam, but it's still possible to take a canal tour through Gouda. Tickets can be bought at the Tourist Office. 
  • Take a guided tour through the city centre (Goudse Gidsen Gilde), . The Gouda Guides Guild offers a wide variety of walking tours through the historic city center of Gouda. They can show you the highlights of the city, or will base the tour on a certain historical topic, it's up to you! €3.50 per person for a tour in a group, €75 for a private tour. 
  • 🌍 Cinema (Cinema Gouda), Burgemeester Jamessingel 52, ☏ +31 182-527773. 6-screen cinema next to train station. English movies shown with Dutch subtitles. €8-9. 
  • 🌍 Arthouse Cinema (Filmhuis Gouda), Lethmaetstraat 45, ☏ +31 182-527773. Small arthouse cinema. €6-8. 
  • 🌍 Theatre (Goudse Schouwburg), Boelekade 67, ☏ +31 182-513750. Large theatre (1045 seats) with a diverse line-up. 
  • 🌍 Relax at Spa Gouda (Spa Gouda), Lange Groenendaal 79, ☏ +31 182-504201. An old public bathing house from the 1920s has been converted to a lush oriental spa, offering various massages, baths, saunas and beauty treatments. 
  • 🌍 Swim (Groenhovenbad), Tobbepad 4. Large public swimming pool 
  • 🌍 Play Golf, Sluisdijk 15, 2809 NA, ☏ +31 182 583933, fax: +31 182 583715, . Daily 08:00-sunset. Nine hole golf course, driving range, 18 hole putting green and restaurant. Equipment rental and lessons available. Weekends €30, weekday €20-25. 
  • 🌍 Visit a ceramics factory, Middelblok 134b, 2831BP, ☏ +31 182 373839, . M-F 08:00-17:30 (tours on Thursday). Factory of traditional Dutch ceramics, including Delftware. €12.50. 
  • Galerie Montulet, Hoge Gouwe 115 (centre of Gouda), ☏ +31 182-338239. 12:00 - 17:00. Gallery exhibitions of modern jewellery made by Dutch jewelly-designers. The gallery is open from Thursday till Sunday from 12:00-17:00. 

Festivals
  • Cheese Market. Every Thursday between April and August, you can visit the traditional cheese market where farmers sell their cheese. It is located on the Markt square. 
  • Gouda Bij Kaarslicht. In the month of December, the city centre gets lit up in special ways. This also contains the Candlelight night on the second Tuesday of December. 
  • Goudse Concerten. During the summer season, there are open-air concerts at the Houtmansplantsoen (a park in the city center). 
  • Gouda Culinair. An annual event which revolves around food: Culinary Gouda. In September, Houtmansplantsoen in Gouda is transformed into the biggest and tastiest open-air restaurant for miles around. 
  • Oranjenacht. The night before Kingsday, a large open-air music event is hosted on the Markt square. This is usually on April 26th. 
  • Koningsdag (King's Day). April 27th is the national holiday of the Netherlands. This is also celebrated in Gouda, with different activities and events each year. 

Buy

Most shops are open M-Sa 09:00-17:00, and until later on Thursday evenings. On Sundays, many stores are closed, except stores that sell fresh products. Most restaurants and bars are open on Sundays.

The busiest shopping street is Kleiweg. Here you can find the regular brands you can find in many Dutch cities, such as Hema, V&D, H&M, The Sting, Blokker, et cetera. In streets such as Tiendeweg, Zeugstraat and Lange Groenendaal, you can find small independent shops with more unique products.

  • Gouda cheese. This world famous cheese gets its name from the town. It's been made locally with cow's milk since the middle ages. The cheese isn't made in the town itself, but the surrounding area. Real Gouda cheese is made on the farms, and is not pasteurized so it retains much more flavour. As a result of this, the cheese is not exported and can only be bought in the Netherlands. Check out the Cheese market or some of the amazing cheese shops in the town. There are several cheese shops in Gouda. 
  • Goudse stroopwafels. These traditional Dutch cookies were invented in Gouda in the 19th century. Two thin wafers with a caramel filling. Yummy! You can buy tins and packs of waffles in various shops around town. 
  • 🌍 Het Siroopwafel Winketje, Agnietenstraat, Kiosk 2 (On the outside of a hideous building with red tiles). For a warm, fresh waffle, try 'Het Stroopwafelwinkeltje', hidden next to the Hema entrance at the Agnietenstraat, just north of the Markt and the Waag. 
  • 🌍 De Vlaam, Markt 69. The De Vlaam bakery bought the original stroopwafel recipe when the descendants of the inventor retired. 
  • 🌍 Siroopwafelbakkerij Van Vliet, Lange Groenendaal 32. 

Besides the usual shops in Gouda, you will also find many independent shops. Without the intention to be complete, some of them are listed below:

Eat

There are lots of small cafes and bars at the north side of the Markt.

Coffee

Asian cuisine

  • 🌍 New Tandoor, Lange Tiendeweg 49, ☏ +31 182 529733. Tu-Su 17:00-22:30. Indian restaurant, cheap prices, good food. Mains €12-15. 
  • 🌍 Sajaki, Nieuwehaven 232, ☏ +31 182 513161. Tuesday-Sunday, 16:00-20:00 (or 20:30 in summer). Mondays closed. In the western part of the city center, this small restaurant is considered the best place in Gouda to try traditional "Indische" (Dutch-Indonesian) cuisine. Take-away is also possible. 
  • 🌍 Kichi, Sint Anthoniestraat 14, ☏ +31 182 860045. Tuesday 16:00-22:00, Wednesday-Saturday 12:00-22:00, Sunday 16:00-21:00. Closed on Mondays. Japanese restaurant with good reviews. 
  • 🌍 WokAmor, Achter de Waag 5, ☏ +31 182 860045. Daily 12:00-21:00. Asian take-away restaurant. It's also possible to eat inside. 
  • 🌍 Bangkok City, Lange Tiendeweg 57, ☏ +31 182 551333. Thai cuisine ~€27.50 for a three-course dinner. 

Dutch/European cuisine

Italian

Tapas

Mexican

  • 🌍 Xochimilco, Wijdstraat 29 (South of Market), ☏ +31 182 523120. Tu-Su 17:00-23:00. Mexican restaurant running for 18 years in Gouda. €14-20. 

Fast food

Drink

Clubs
  • 🌍 So What!, Vest 30, ☏ +31 182 519232. F 22:00 - late, Sa 22:30 - late. A nice and friendly place with a stage and a bar in the centre of Gouda. Perfect to get a drink and go dancing during the weekends. National bands are playing regularly. €1.90 for a beer. 
  • 🌍 StudioGonz, Turfsingel 36, ☏ +31 182 526499, . Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday, depending on the program. Underground stage and alternative club. 

Bars

Sleep

Gouda is a very popular day trip destination. Accommodation options used to be limited, but this has been changing.

Nearby
  • Hotel Over de Brug, Ad en Vic Versteeg, Veerlaan 1, 2851 BV, Haastrecht (Take Provincialeweg West (N288) from Gouda), ☏ +31 182 501210, +31 182 501415. This traditional hotel on the River IJssel, is about 5km from Gouda, in the small town of Haastrecht. It's an easy cycle to Gouda. There is a pub/restaurant. Free Wi-fi and parking. Double €67, single €40. 
  • 🌍 Tulip Inn, Goudseweg 32, 2411HL, Bodegraven (6 km outside Gouda, just off the A12; take bus 178 from Gouda), ☏ +31 172-650003, . 64 rooms all with balcony. There are two restaurants and a bar. €65.50-95.50, Breakfast €12.50. 

Stay safe

Gouda is, in general, a safe city, even at night time. There used to be a lot of car crime, but CCTV cameras have reduced this to normal levels. Just don't leave your valuables in the car.

  • Police Station, Nieuwe Gouwe Oostzijde 2. M-F 08:00-21:00; Sa Su 09:00-17:00. 
  • Hospital (Groene Hart Ziekenhuis), Bleulandweg 10, ☏ +31 1820 566 666, fax: +31 1820 566 601. 

Go next

Due to its central location, Gouda makes for a good base to explore the region and easily connects to other sights in the Netherlands.

  • Oudewater - this village is 15 km from Gouda, and the route in between makes for a scenic bike ride. Oudewater is famous for its witch weighing house, where they issue certificates proving people aren't witches. It became famous during the 16th century because people accused of witchcraft were offered an honest chance of proving their innocence. In many cities and countries such trials were usually rigged, resulting in the burning or drowning of hundreds of innocent people. No witches ever were found in Oudewater...
  • Rotterdam - the second largest city in the Netherlands, and the second largest port in the world is only 15 min from Gouda. Check out its 20th-century architecture and great shopping.
  • The Hague - home of the Dutch government and the residence of the Dutch Queen, this city is full of history at less than half an hour from Gouda.
  • Utrecht - the city has some great historic architecture and is a transport hub for the Netherlands.
  • Delft - a historic city known for its Delftware pottery, Delft is about 40 min away (by train or car) from Gouda.
  • Leiden - with the second-largest city centre (after Amsterdam) and a lively student population, Leiden is an interesting city to visit.

Cycle route in the Gouda area (in English):

Routes through Gouda
The Hague ← Zoetermeer ←  W  E  → Woerden → Arnhem


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