Three days in Gouda: What to see and do
Three days in Gouda: What to see and do
The Dutch city of Gouda is, of course, famous for its world-renowned Gouda cheese. But it’s also known for its syrup waffles, clay pipes, candles and the stained glass windows in St. John’s Church. You can easily spend three days in Gouda without a moment of boredom. In fact, we ran out of time to admire all the city’s attractions. To make your visit to Gouda as successful as ours, we’re providing inspiration in this blog that will make three days in Gouda fly by.
Thursday, the start of three days in Gouda
We deliberately chose to start our visit on Thursday. For us, this day is almost entirely dedicated to cheese. We drive to the city early. During our visit, we’re staying at the Best Western City Plus hotel. Conveniently, we can walk straight into the hotel via the car park. We check in there and drop off our luggage. Then we walk to the Market Square in a few minutes.
Gouda cheese market
We want to be present well before ten o’clock for the Cheese Market. Every Thursday morning from April to September, Gouda’s Market Square comes alive with the historic cheese market. Here we see the age-old tradition of hand-clapping, where cheese farmers and traders negotiate the price of the cheeses. This market is not only a feast for the senses but also a dive into Gouda’s rich history.
We enjoy the atmosphere, the sound of clogs and horse hooves on the cobblestones, and the smell of fresh cheese. We’re not the only ones witnessing the colourful spectacle. Hundreds of other interested people are watching the scene. Many of them have their photo taken with the cheese girls. The cheese market takes place every Thursday morning from early April until the last Thursday in August. The spectacle lasts from 10:00 to 12:30. There is no cheese market on Ascension Day.
Visit to the Gouda weighing house
After the cheese market, a visit to the Gouda Weighing House is a must. This historic building from 1668 once served as a weighing place for cheeses. Today it houses a museum. Here we learn more about the history of Gouda cheese and other regional products. The monumental architecture and rich history make it an interesting stop for any culture and history enthusiast. Of course, we conclude our visit with a cheese tasting, delicious!
Pay particular attention to the beautiful relief on the front of the Weighing House. It depicts a scene of weighing the cheese. The weighmaster sits with his foot on the balance where the cheeses are placed. Could he be doing this to levy more tax? The relief is actually a replica. The 17th-century original hangs inside the Weighing House. Another reason to visit the Gouda Weighing House.
Time for lunch
Gouda has many beautiful places to have lunch. As the weather is nice, we want to sit outside on the terrace. We choose the terrace of Bergs Bakery. This is the specialist in baking Gouda syrup waffles according to a secret and old recipe. We don’t opt for a snack of this delicacy. We indulge in a delicious cup of soup, followed by a tasty sandwich. Accompanied by a piece of cheese, of course. Certainly step inside the beautiful building if you’re lunching outside. You’ll feel like you’ve gone back in time with many nostalgic products.
City walk with a guide
A guide from the Gouda Guides Guild takes us through the atmospheric streets and alleys of the city. Meanwhile, he tells us about the hidden gems and the rich history of Gouda. We learn that the famous philosopher and humanist Erasmus was conceived by a Gouda priest with his housekeeper. Erasmus was born in Rotterdam, but he spent his school years in Gouda. We’re also surprised to hear that in the Middle Ages, Gouda was the beer city of Europe. Around 1470, the city had no less than 200 breweries. Together they produced 15 million litres of barley brew per year. The beer was of excellent quality, mainly thanks to the clean water.
Another fascinating story is the toll collection in the canals. In the Middle Ages, Gouda was on an important shipping route from France to Scandinavia. By levying tolls at the locks, the city became wealthy. Ships would lie in the city for three days before they could sail on. Therefore, an enormous trade flourished along the quays. Sailmakers, shipbuilders, cafes and brothels profited greatly from this long waiting time.
If you want to take a city walk on your own, the Gouda Tourist Office has various walks available.
Gouda Cheese Experience
Then we continue our “cheese day” with a visit to the Gouda Cheese Experience. The centuries-old building in which this interactive museum is housed is worth a visit in itself. It used to serve as a barracks and cinema. Of course, the building is yellow on the outside, how could it be otherwise.
Here we experience the journey from milk to cheese in an engaging way. Through interactive screens, films, “discovery walls” and a questionnaire, we learn a lot about the history of Gouda cheese and the production process. The questionnaire works well for us: we try to answer all the questions. As a result, we intensively view, listen to and read all the information in the Gouda Cheese Experience. So at the end of the tour, we know whether we can call ourselves real cheese masters. Of course, we finish with a cheese platter.
A visit to the Gouda Cheese Experience is thus both informative and entertaining. It gives us an even greater appreciation for the product that Gouda is known for worldwide. We now also understand why Tripadvisor mentions this museum as Travellers’ Choice 2024 and even the New York Times recommends Gouda Cheese Experience. Truly one of the highlights during three days in Gouda!
Culture and history during three days in Gouda
We spend our second day mainly on culture and history.
St. John’s church
We start our day with a visit to the impressive St. John’s Church. At 123 metres, it’s the longest church in the Netherlands. But that length is not the greatest attraction of the sanctuary. That honour goes to the 72 beautiful stained glass windows. These windows, known as the “Gouda Glazes”, tell stories from the Bible and Dutch history. Nowhere in the world will you find a church where so much 16th-century stained glass has been preserved. The colours and details of these windows are breathtakingly beautiful. This makes St. John’s Church an absolute highlight of three days in Gouda.
With an excellent audio tour, we learn a lot about the windows and the stories depicted on them. This gives us a new perspective on all those beautiful works of art. It’s incredible how many details are incorporated into those windows!
Gouda Museum
Near the church is the Gouda Museum. It’s housed in a former medieval hospital. The history of the building dates back to the 14th century. We get a guided tour of the beautiful building. Guide Sofieke shows us the most beautiful art. But before she begins, she takes us to the enormous city model. We get a detailed picture of Gouda in the year 1562. When we walk through the centre later today, we’ll view the city with different eyes.
In addition to the extensive collection of militia pieces, the artworks of the Hague School and the fascinating temporary exhibition, two parts of the collection stand out for us. First, the large altarpieces, exhibited in the Hospital Chapel. Gouda was a tolerant city during the Iconoclastic Fury. This ensured that much Catholic art was preserved. The beautiful altarpieces from St. John’s Church are an example of this. In the same chapel, we also find the unique metre-high design drawings for the stained glass windows of St. John’s Church. The fact that these “survived” the Reformation is truly special.
Afterwards, we have lunch in the walled inner garden of the museum. In nice weather, this is a great place to eat and drink. If it’s chilly, you’ll also be comfortable in the museum cafe under the centuries-old vaulted cellar.
Canal tour with Reederij De IJssel
In the afternoon, we explore the city from the water. We do this with a canal tour, organised by Reederij De IJsel (in Dutch). In the historic museum harbour, we board the Jan Salie, a replica of an old tow barge. The ship has a historical appearance but also offers modern comfort. There’s a beautiful covered salon and even a toilet on board.
During a relaxing trip on the water, we get a different perspective of the city. Meanwhile, the skipper tells numerous fascinating stories about the city, the buildings and bridges we pass.
Last day of three days in Gouda
This day is dedicated to the goods market, syrup waffles and Gouda’s charming shopping streets.
Market
We start the last day in Gouda with a visit to the Market Square. Every Thursday and Saturday, a large market takes place. During the Thursday market (during the period when there’s a Cheese Market), there are also various demonstrations of local crafts. The Saturday market, which lasts all day, is mainly a goods market. Here you’ll find everything from fresh produce to nice souvenirs. It’s always enjoyable to stroll around such a market and soak up the atmosphere.
Town hall
The backdrop of the market is fantastic: from all angles, Gouda’s impressive town hall shows itself magnificently. The iconic 15th-century building is one of the oldest Gothic town halls in the Netherlands. Unfortunately, we can’t admire the town hall from the inside today, as the doors are closed. When they are open, it’s a sign that the town hall is open to the public.
But we can also enjoy it from the outside. The impressive facade is a feast for the eyes. Six statues of people who played an important role in Gouda’s history dominate the appearance. On the side, we hear a carillon. Every half hour, you can see how Floris V grants city rights to Gouda. And of course, the many red and white painted shutters immediately catch the eye.
Kamphuisen syrup waffle factory
Who doesn’t know Gouda’s syrup waffles? Almost everyone can enjoy this speciality, which was first produced in Gouda at the beginning of the 19th century. We visit the Kamphuisen Siroopwafelfabriek (syrup waffle factory). There we discover that there’s a subtle difference between the ‘stroopwafel’ and the ‘siroopwafel’. We can already deduce something from the name. In a ‘stroopwafel’, the filling consists of treacle, and a ‘siroopwafel’ is filled with syrup. But the baking process of these two treats is also different. And that makes the syrup waffle just a bit tastier. That’s a different kettle of fish! At the Kamphuisen Syrup Waffle Factory, they’ve been baking the waffles according to a secret recipe since 1810.
Charming shopping streets
We conclude our stay in Gouda with an afternoon of shopping. Around the market square are several charming medieval streets with unique shops. The city even has the first Fairtrade shopping street in the Netherlands: the Groenendaal. One of the nicest shops there is Heb ik VIA. It’s a small department store with home accessories, gift items and much more. Beautiful products offered by various creative makers and entrepreneurs. The Korte Groenendaal is also a pleasant street. There, lunch café Curcuma is the address for a delicious vegetarian lunch. Finally, a visit to the oldest tobacco shop in the Netherlands is a must. Tobacco shop D.G. van Vreumingen has been around since 1838. The shop looks almost the same as it did nearly 200 years ago.
Gouda, much more than cheese
Our three days in Gouda have flown by. What an atmospheric city this is, with so many beautiful sights. We definitely want to come back. For example, to enjoy the medieval spectacle Zotte Zaterdag (crazy Saturday) in early October or the three-day cultural festival De Verwondering (amazement) in September. And not to forget the light spectacle Gouda by Candlelight, just before Christmas. If you want more inspiration for your visit to Gouda, be sure to take a look at Welcome to Gouda.
Practical information for three days in Gouda
Gouda is located east of Rotterdam in the southwest of the Netherlands.
Gouda is easily accessible by train or car from all directions. If you're coming from far outside the Netherlands, you might also consider flying to Schiphol near Amsterdam or to Rotterdam. From there, you can easily continue to Gouda by train.
The Gouda Cheese Market (every Thursday morning from early April to late August) is world-famous and not to be missed. As well as the "Gouda Glazes", a large collection of stained glass windows in St. John's Church. The Gouda Museum houses a unique collection of altarpieces and a large collection of Gouda Pottery. Many attractions have a connection with cheese. Such as the Weighing House and Gouda Cheese Experience. During a guided city walk, you'll pass the most beautiful spots in the city and hear many interesting facts. Finally, a canal tour of Gouda is a great opportunity to see the sights from the water.
Gouda has many special events throughout the year. The world-famous Cheese Market takes place every Thursday from early April to late August (except Ascension Day). The medieval spectacle Zotte Zaterdag or the three-day cultural festival De Verwondering are other special events. At the end of the year, Gouda by Candlelight provides atmosphere and light in the dark days before Christmas.
An excellent restaurant is Brunel. Especially in summer when you can dine outside by the fish stalls on the Hoge Gouwe. You can't find a more romantic spot. Excellent food and good service.
Other highly rated restaurants:
- De Kleischuur (vegetarian)
- Chaplin's
- Grand Café Central
Our hotel was the Best Western City Plus hotel. An excellent hotel within walking distance of the attractions. Convenient: we walked straight into the hotel from the Bolwerk car park. Nice room and an excellent and extensive breakfast buffet. And the lady who welcomed us at the buffet deserves our hospitality award. Such warmth and service-mindedness! She personally ensured that we started our second day in Gouda with a big smile.
Another great hotel is Weeshuis Gouda. Top comfort in an atmospheric ambiance in a historic building, the former orphanage.
This is the full range of accommodations in Gouda.
We visited Gouda at the invitation of the city’s Tourist Office. However, we have independently and objectively compiled the content of the blog based on the impressions gained during our visit.
