Things to do in

Gouda

Visit the church of St. John in Gouda and discover all its beauty with the help of an audioguide. Watch the sun shine through the 72 world-famous stained-glass windows and mmediately understand what makes St John’s in Gouda so special.  No other church in the world has so much sixteenth-century stained glass. The Gouda Windows, as they are known, are among the supreme achievements of European glass painting. Gaze in awe at the superb colors and rich interplay of light that contribute to the hushed atmosphere in the longest church in the Netherlands.

Your morning or afternoon in Gouda will start at your hotel or if you travel to Gouda from elsewhere at the train station. Set off in a relaxing pace to make sure you really get to see, feel and learn all about this town. The main square of the city is called Market. In the middle of the fan shaped square you will find the city hall. This building was constructed after the great cityfire in 1450 and is one of the oldest townhalls in the Netherlands. At the side of the building there is a carillion with a puppet performance about the cityrights granted to Gouda in 1272. Also at the square you will encounter the 17th century constructed weighing house. In this weighing house the famous Gouda Cheese was weighed for many centuries. Nowadays in the summertime (April – August) every Thursday morning a cheesemarket takes place in Gouda. South of the square you will see the famous Saint John church. This church is the longest church of the Netherlands, measuring 123 meters. The church is best known for its beautiful stained glass windows. One of the many highlights during your visit to Gouda will be the hidden gem of the Gouda museum, its amazing garden with many sculptures. After the tour enjoy your ultimate treat: the local specialty “Stroopwafel”, a thin waffle filled with syrup.

Enter the Goudsche Waag and find yourself in another world. Take a guided tour of the building and learn about the centuries-old Gouda crafts. Taste the flavor, from beer to plateel, syrup waffles to cheese. Get the whole story. Explore the ground floor museum of the De Goudse Waag historic building. View the different products that were weighed and traded there, and discover the secrets contained in the sculptures.  

Book your entry ticket to the city hall of Gouda and wander through this magnificent building that’s been the jewel of the market square for over 5.5 centuries. Discover the Wedding Hall, the Mayor's Room, the Council Room, and the Civic Hall in the basement. As you explore the rooms in the town hall, from the basement where meat used to be inspected to the attic where until recently the city council met, gain insight about the town and its people. Learn about the various renovations that illustrate how fashion and taste have changed over the centuries. In the Middle Ages, Gouda was already an important center due to its position near the rivers Hollandsche IJssel and Gouwe. As the town grew in importance, it needed a new and impressive town hall. The new town hall cost more than half the town’s annual budget. The town hired Jan Kelderman III, a member of a famous Mechelen-based family of architects. More than a hundred skilled workers from home and abroad worked for two years to create this elegant palace. In 1450, the building was more or less complete. The steps and landing were added 150 years later. 

Kick off on a handy rental scooter and discover the city of Gouda. You'll quickly see that the city has much more to offer than its famous cheese, as you zoom around to the best sites. Do a tour of the museums, cruise along the canals, admire the medieval architecture; the choice is yours. Make your journey that much faster and spend extra time taking in the charm and serenity of Gouda.

Be driven directly to Gouda on a comfortable 1-hour journey. Pass the typical Dutch polder landscape on the way. Begin a walking tour of Gouda and learn about the city’s history. See highlights like the famous cheese Weighing House (De Waag), the town hall, and Sint Jan church. During your trip to Gouda, you do not only get to taste the famous Gouda cheese, but also the famous Stroopwafels (syrup waffles). Visit a real cheese farm or the Cheese experience. After Gouda, be driven through the idyllic countryside beside rivers, passing country mansions, windmills, and farmland in the direction of Oudewater. Go for a short stroll over cobblestones as your guide shows you the city's highlights. After this inspiring journey, be dropped off at your hotel, vacation address, boat pier, or Schiphol Airport.