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Historic city · Roterdã, Holanda Meridional
Gouda
Cheese town about 25 kilometers from Roterdã, with a Gothic town hall in the middle of the market square and the Waag, the old cheese weigh-house. On Thursday mornings from April through the end of August there is a traditional cheese market.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Gouda
Gouda is about 20 minutes by train from Rotterdam Centraal and gave its name to the Netherlands' best-known cheese. The center revolves around the Markt, the market square, one of the largest in the country, with the Gothic town hall (Stadhuis) right in the middle, surrounded by old houses.
On the edge of the square stands the Waag, the public weigh-house built in 1668 to a design by Pieter Post, where cheese was weighed and taxed. Today the building houses a cheese centre, and the façade bears reliefs that show the weighing.
On Thursday mornings from April through the end of August the square hosts the Goudse Kaasmarkt, a reenactment of the old cheese market. Farmers and traders negotiate with the traditional handclap, cheeses are weighed in the Waag and loaded onto carts, and there are craft stalls around. The schedule can change each year: check before you go.
Besides cheese, Gouda has the Sint-Janskerk, a church famous for its 16th- and 17th-century stained glass, and is known for stroopwafels, the syrup-filled cookies. The canals and streets around the Markt can be walked in a few hours.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Half a day; a full day if you include the church, a museum and lunch.
Best time
Thursday morning, from April until the end of August, for the cheese market—arrive before 10:00. Outside the season, any day is fine for the town.
How to get there
Train from Rotterdam Centraal to Gouda station takes about 20 minutes, and a 10-minute walk to the Markt. By car, about 25 kilometres via the A20.
Tip
Stay near the Waag to see the weighing and the handclap bargaining. Try aged cheese (oude kaas) and a freshly made stroopwafel at a stall in the square.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Gouda
When does the Gouda cheese market take place?
On Thursday mornings, from April until the end of August. The schedule can change each year: check before you go.
How do you get from Roterdã to Gouda?
By train, from Rotterdam Centraal to Gouda station in about 20 minutes. The Markt is a 10-minute walk from the station.
Is it worth going to Gouda outside the market season?
Yes. The square, the Gothic town hall, the Waag and the stained-glass windows of the Sint-Janskerk can be seen year-round.