Visit Gouda, a lively town full of colour and character. Gouda, the historic city in the province of South Holland, is known worldwide for its Gouda cheese, its candles, and delicious stroopwafels. Yet Gouda has much more to offer than that alone. Let’s wander along pretty canals and cobbled streets lined with cosy cafés, cheese shops, and old Dutch houses. We can feel the history all around – from grand churches to windmills on the edge of town.
Founded in the 11th century, this town is known worldwide for its cheese. It grew as an important trading centre in the Middle Ages, thriving on its markets, canals, and craftsmanship.
Here’s why Gouda should be at the top of your travel list:
Our advice: Comfortable full day
Travel time from Amsterdam: about 1 hour each way.
Gouda is close enough for an unhurried day. In spring and summer, plan around the Thursday morning cheese market, and the windmills of Kinderdijk are nearby too.
Sint Janskerk, built in the 15th century, is the longest church in the Netherlands and a true treasure of Gouda. Famous for its stunning stained glass windows, it tells stories of Dutch history and faith in glowing colour. A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, the church has stood for centuries as a symbol of the city’s rich spiritual and artistic heritage
Gouda’s Old City Hall, built in the 1400s, is one of the oldest and most beautiful town halls in the Netherlands. It stands right in the middle of the market square, with tall towers, and red-and-white shutters. Don’t miss the carillon on the side – every half hour, little figures come to life and music fills the air. It’s a proud and playful symbol of Gouda’s rich history and charm.
Step inside a giant cheese wheel and enjoy hands-on displays that show how cheese is made – from the cow to the shop. Try virtual milking, flip some cheese, and learn the old hand-clap deal used at the market. Finish your visit with a tasty bite of real Gouda cheese!
Staying in Amsterdam? Go beyond Gouda at our premium cheese tasting in a historic canal house. A cheese specialist guides you through five carefully selected cheeses from small producers in the Netherlands and beyond, from aged Dutch cheese to goat, sheep, washed-rind and blue, paired with wine, beer or a soft drink.
Situated on the market square, the Goudse Waag is a 17th-century building that once served as a weigh house for cheese traders. Today, it houses the Cheese and Crafts Museum, where visitors can learn about the history of Gouda cheese, traditional crafts, and the building itself. The ground floor features a shop offering a variety of Dutch cheeses and souvenirs.
The Gouda Cheese Market (held weekly on Thursday, starting from Apr 17, 2025, until Aug 28, 2025) is a vibrant display of Dutch cheese traditions and a delightful shopping experience. Around the market square, you’ll find lots of stalls selling more than just cheese. Local sellers offer Dutch crafts, tasty treats, and souvenirs to take home. You can even watch artists making wooden clogs or hand-dipping candles. Plus, there are plenty of chances to try and buy yummy snacks like stroopwafels, poffertjes (Dutch traditional pancakes), and fresh cheeses straight from the farm.
A stroopwafel is made of two thin, crispy waffle layers filled with warm, gooey caramel syrup. It’s a beloved Dutch snack, famous across the Netherlands and beyond, cherished for its perfect mix of crunch and sweetness. In Gouda, you can visit a stroopwafel factory that’s been making these tasty treats since 1810, using a secret family recipe that keeps the tradition alive. The factory tour lets you watch the bakers in action, try making the dough yourself, and finish with a freshly baked stroopwafel, a delicious and unforgettable way to experience Dutch culture.
The stroopwafel – two thin waffle biscuits sandwiched with caramel syrup – was invented in Gouda around 1810, and Kamphuisen is widely credited as its place of origin. Fresh stroopwafels bear no resemblance to packaged versions sold worldwide. Place one over a hot cup of coffee and let the caramel soften before eating – that is the proper way.
The traditional Gouda cheese market takes place weekly from April to August on Thursday mornings at the Markt square, where farmers and traders reenact traditional cheese trading. Outside these months, cheese culture is still visible through shops, museums and tastings.
Gouda is about 55 kilometres from Amsterdam. The best is to take the train from Amsterdam Central Station. This takes around 50 minutes and you arrive next to the city centre. By car it takes about one hour, depending on traffic.
Yes and no. Historically farmers brought their cheese to Gouda to be traded and sold, so the name Gouda became associated with the cheese. Today Gouda cheese is produced across the Netherlands, but the city remains the symbolic home of the cheese.
Spring and summer are the most popular times, especially during the cheese market season. Winter is quieter, but December is magical with Gouda by Candlelight, when the entire town centre is lit by candles and festive lights.
The city gave its name to one of the world’s most popular cheeses. Farmers used to bring their cheese to Gouda to be weighed and sold, and today you can still visit the cheese market and taste young, aged or farm made Gouda.
Next to this, Gouda is also the birthplace of the stroopwafel. This is a thin waffle filled with warm caramel syrup. They are still made by hand in local bakeries and are best enjoyed fresh and warm.
Most visitors spend half a day exploring the historic centre, visiting the cheese market or museums, and enjoying lunch or coffee. It can also be comfortably extended into a full day.
One of the most popular events is Gouda by Candlelight in December, when the city centre is lit entirely by candles. There are also seasonal markets and cultural festivals throughout the year.
