Table of Contents
Gouda Holland, the Venice of cheese and much more!
Gouda in the Netherlands is much more than just a famous Dutch cheese. It's a beautiful city full of canals, a mini Venice of cheese, as I like to call it. It's located about 20 km from Rotterdam and not far from Amsterdam, at 75 km. Visiting its cheese market and discovering the history of the famous Gouda cheese is what we all expect to find in Gouda, but… do you know what other interesting things this beautiful Dutch city has to offer?
During this summer we have spent almost 3 days in Gouda in a motorhome (staying in their central municipal motorhome area) and visiting Gouda with children, as a family. Therefore, today we explain the best we have experienced and seen in Gouda, Holland.
Gouda what to see, Holland
Gouda, a city in the province of South Holland, has one of the most beautiful old town in the Netherlands, as well as beautiful buildings, centuries-old canals, great gastronomy, cozy terraces and wonderful shops. But not only that, it also has great leisure activities and great adventures to live as a family. Also, it is a good city to travel by motorhome thanks to the Gouda motorhome area, a great municipal area.
Next, we show you through our family travel experience in Gouda, Holland, 10 things you should not miss in Gouda, Holland.
The 10 essentials of Gouda city
1. Stroll through its old town between canals, beautiful buildings, windmills, and craft and fair trade shops
Strolling through the streets of Gouda's Old Town is a truly pleasant and welcoming experience. Exploring the alleyways near the church and its small gardens is incredibly relaxing and peaceful. Don't miss the narrow canals that wind through the Old Town . Following them will lead you to two charming , traditional Dutch windmills .
Finally, be warned that strolling through these streets can be dangerous for your wallet, as you'll discover many beautiful artisan shops and, of course, the fair trade shopping street, which you absolutely must visit. So, take a look at Kleiwegstraat and Lange Tiendeweg, and don't forget to also visit Lange Groenendaal and Korte Groenendaal, the first fair trade street in the Netherlands, brimming with lovely clothes, fair trade food, and vintage furniture.
2. Sint-Janskerk Church
The Sint-Janskerk church, or St. John the Baptist Church, is famous for its beautiful stained-glass windows . It is undoubtedly one of Gouda's most iconic landmarks. Its 123-meter nave makes it the longest church in the Netherlands.
3. Gouda Town Hall (Stadhuis), Cheese Market and the Waag in Mark Square
Gouda town hall
The icon of Gouda is undoubtedly its Gothic- style Town Hall, or Stadhuis . If you mention Gouda to a Dutch person, they'll immediately think of the cheese and then its town hall. This Town Hall, whose construction dates back to 1450, is beautiful and spectacular. A highlight is the carillon on the facade , which plays lovely music for visitors. It also features mechanical figures that come to life and put on a beautiful show two minutes on the hour and half past the hour. Don't miss it!
The cheese market, mark square
Surrounding Gouda's town hall is the cheese market square . Here you'll find a wide variety of restaurants, cafes with lovely terraces, and a very pleasant atmosphere at all hours , every day of the year.
For those who want to see the cheese market, it's only held on Thursdays, morning and afternoon, during the summer months , from April to August. Currently, due to Covid, the market is still taking place, but without the usual spectacle of cheeses.
The Waag
In this same square is the Gouda weighing building, the Waag, where cheeses were weighed and where you can learn a lot about this dairy product so typical of Gouda and Holland.
The magic of candlelight night in Mark Square
Those traveling to Gouda in December should also know about the famous Gouda Candlelight Night (bij Kaarslicht), held every December 13th. It's a grand celebration where the Town Hall and other historic buildings are illuminated with thousands of candles in their windows, while numerous Christmas choirs fill the streets with music. The magic, however, truly unfolds when thousands of tiny lights are switched on in the market square. Our trip was in the summer, but locals told us about it, and we already wish we could return one Christmas to experience this festival in Gouda.
4. Visit one of the city's museums
In the city of Gouda, Netherlands, there are also several interesting museums. There's the Museum Gouda , which houses fascinating and diverse artifacts from Gouda's history; the Stedelijk Museum Het Catharina Gasthuis , which exhibits Gouda's art and crafts; and the Stedelijk Museum De Morian , a tobacco museum that was formerly a sugar refinery and later a tobacco shop. Visiting a museum always helps you discover new things; highly recommended.
5. Discover the experience of the siroopwaffels
You can't leave Gouda without trying the siroopwaffles. Gouda isn't just the city of cheese, it's also the city of siroopwaffles , a typical Dutch sweet treat that originated and was created right here in Gouda.
For this, we set out to discover them well and we did it in a workshop to make our own siroopwaffel and then eat it in style.
We made them at Bergs Bakery. Since 1989, the family business Van den Berg. Van Vliet has been baking authentic Gouda syrup waffles by hand for over a hundred years, based on an old, secret recipe with its own unique flavor. A wonderful treat for the palate.
Besides syrup waffles, they also sell other combo products, such as syrup wafer liqueur, syrup waffle cakes, chocolate syrup, etc.
Every Thursday at 3pm there is a workshop to make your own translated syrup waffles or waffles with syrup. The workshop costs € 6,50 per person. Apart from seeing their own siroopwaffel factory they will teach you and make your own siroopwaffel. And finally, to enjoy it and eat! A freshly made delight.
We highly recommend it. A great fun and delicious experience
The address to do this workshop or eat a good siroopwaffel (it's a cafeteria too) is:
Lange Groenendal 32
2801 LT Gouda
+31 (0) 182529975
6. Canoe tour and adventure through the Gouda canals
One of the most unique ways to discover Gouda is during a SUP tour through the most amazing canals of this Dutch cheese Venice. From the water you will see everything from another perspective.
You can do two different routes, one of one hour or one of two hours. Both are very well signposted and they also give you a map.
The route, whatever it is, is very fun. It is quite an adventure to go under the tunnels of the channels, sometimes very narrow. In some parts you will laugh a lot when you have to bend down so much that you will look like Amazon Indians hidden in a great adventure.
I think it is the activity that we liked the most of the whole trip through Holland. Gouda's canoeing prospect is totally unusual, beautiful and exciting. We recommend it very very very much!
The two-hour rental of the canoe to do the route for the four is worth € 35.
To reserve call or write to them. The girl who will attend you is charming and will help you in everything.
+31 6 37433715
7. Enjoy the Gouda Cheesse Experience
Whether or not you can pronounce it like a native speaker, Gouda cheese is famous worldwide. It's actually one of the Netherlands' main and most important exports. However, what many don't know is that Gouda cheese isn't made in the city of Gouda itself, but rather in the surrounding villages and farms, collectively known as the Cheese Valley. The name Gouda dates back to the Middle Ages. Today, there are still approximately 300 Dutch farmers making "boerenkaas" (farmer's cheese) in the region. The Cheese Valley is located between Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht. We learned all this and much more during this experience, which we'd like to share with you.
Since 2020, Gouda has had one more spectacular attraction: the Gouda Cheese Experience. Much more than a museum, it's a unique, interactive, fun, and surprising experience for the whole family. Don't hesitate, go for it!
The Gouda Cheese Experience building in the center of Gouda looks like a huge hunk of succulent Gouda cheese. Here you can take a unique and interactive journey through the yellow universe. An authentic milky way! Learn the trade of a master cheesemaker and, finally, since you couldn't expect another way to finish the tour, try the authentic Gouda cheese but in an original way and in a spectacular tasting.
We were surprised by the long tour through various rooms, very enriching and educational for children and adults. With interactive games and a treasure hunt quiz that entertains a lot. Even a super cool movie in 3d!
You will not only milk cows, you will taste good fresh Dutch milk, but you will learn to make different cheeses, you will dress up with Dutch folk clothes, etc etc ... but you will learn that there are many types of Gouda cheese and that there are some that you die how rich they are.
Adult admission is € 13,50 with the tasting included. For us it was worth the thought and we really enjoyed it.
https://www.goudacheese-experience.com/
Address: Agnietenstraat 21
8. Make yourself a gastronomic tribute with a good Gouda fondue or any other dish
In Gouda you will find many places to eat, where there will be no shortage of French fries, fried, or the typical croquettes there, kroketten or Gouda cheese. We highly recommend trying its gastronomy. We were very surprised.
You can't make a good fondue anywhere and here we enjoy a good one that we want to recommend.
The only place where you can enjoy regional meat and cheese dishes in a unique interior is Koeien en Kaas. Koeien en Kaas, which is located behind the Goudse Waag, was born out of pride for Gouda cheese and passion for meat. The various fondues and cheese dishes are widely known in this place. Fondue is its star dish and I am not surprised.
Address:
Achter de Waag 20
2801 JA Gouda
9. If you go with children, you cannot miss the Dino Experience Park and Golf
Who dares to come face-to-face with over 70 dinosaurs brought back to life in Gouda after 100 million years? Just outside Gouda, at the entrance, you'll find the new Dino Experience Park. A park where you can fully immerse yourself in the world of dinosaurs.
In this park you will find two parks in one. The super fun 18-hole dinosaur mini golf park between dinosaurs and the park where you can search and find 70 dinosaurs through a treasure hunt with a little book that they give you and that at the end of everything has a prize !. And if all this is not enough, at the Dino Experience Park, you can pedal to Turtle Island, jump on the inflatables or join the Dino Gym.
Really a great plan to do with children in Gouda.
Jurassic Golf can be done separately or in combination with the rest of the park and is suitable for all ages. The Dino Experience Park is aimed at children up to 12 years old.
If you go by motorhome, we advise you to park before the entrance of the parking lot, there are some parking lots right on the road next to a factory and a bus stop. And in two minutes on foot you are. There is also the bike path from the city center if you prefer.
https://dinoexperiencepark.nl/
10 Taking a bath in Gouda is possible
Gouda is not known for its beach, but you can still lounge on the GoudAsfalt urban beach, on the banks of the Hollandsche IJssel river. It used to be an industrial area, but today it is one of the most modern and fun places in the city. Events are held regularly there and the Rederij de Vrijheid Beach Bar is the perfect place for lunch or dinner. the beach in Gouda is possible
Gouderaksedijk 36, 2808 NG Gouda Nederland
And of course, Gouda also has a beautiful spa. Tucked away on a pleasant shopping street is Spa Gouda, an oasis of tranquility right in the center. Spa Gouda is housed within a monumental spa from 1920. In 2012, the spa was completely restored to its former glory. Spa Gouda is small but beautiful. Relax in different saunas and steam baths at Lange Groenendaal 79 Gouda.
What do you think now? Do you still think that Gouda is just a cheese?
Gouda in camper van
Gouda is great to go by motorhome, just two minutes from the historical center of the city you will find the Gouda municipal motorhome area. It is in the same parking lot in the historic center but even though it is an asphalt parking lot, the area is excellent. Both for its location and for its services that includes electricity at the same price. Gouda in a motorhome you cannot miss it if you are going to make a trip through the Netherlands in a motorhome.
The cost of this area is € 8 for 24 hours.
GPS coordinates: N 52 ° 0'39.8304 ”E 4 ° 43'1.6608000000001” 52.011064,4.717128
Gouda with children
As you'll have seen in our 10 must-do things to do in Gouda, some are especially great for visiting with children . My kids absolutely loved the canoe trip along Gouda's canals ; it was a truly fun adventure for them. Second and third, they enjoyed the Dino Experience Park and the Cheese Experience, with its final cheese tasting and fun interactive activities. Making their own syrup waffles and eating fondue were also a big hit. My little ones are always eager for food!
Photos of Gouda in motorhome and with children
Posts about cities and destinations in Europe to complete your trip.
Don't miss out on these posts that can help you finish planning a 10 trip through Belgium by motorhome, camper van or a trip to Belgium by car on your own. Here you will discover articles about Belgium to see, Belgium cities, Belgium on the map about a trip to Belgium, about Belgium Bruges, about Belgium Ghent, Belgium Antwerp, Belgium Ostend, Belgium Leuven, Belgium capital Brussels and in short a route through Belgium that you can inspire.
Posts about other routes that may interest you ...
Don't miss these posts that can inspire you on your next trip
We hope you liked this trip as much as we do. If you liked it let us know in a comment and subscribe to the newsletter of our blog and social networks. It encourages us to continue writing!
Good afternoon, I hope your post serves as a guide to enjoy those lands, since I am going to travel there shortly, it is very interesting, thank you.
Regards!
When you get back, you tell us Toni, I hope so, although things always change, so when you get back you tell us 🙂
Thanks to your post, we visited the gouda cheese experience and it was very pleasant! Thank you for sharing the trip!
How cool, we will also like it a lot!
Wave! Very interesting and informative post. Uma duvida: or Koeien restaurant in Kaas mudou de nome for The Barn? Obrigada!