The Best Things to Do in Gouda (Beyond Cheese)

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Discover the best things to do in Gouda, Netherlands beyond the infamous Cheese Market, including recommendations on where to eat and where to stay in Gouda.

One of four muncipalities comprising Holland’s Cheese Valley, Gouda is synonymous with cheese. The infamous Gouda Cheese Market lures hundreds of tourists to this tiny Dutch city every week, while devoted turophiles can also get their cheese fix at Gouda’s cheese shops, Goudse Waag Cheese and Crafts Museum and cheese-inspired restaurants.

In fact, this little city just south of Amsterdam in South Holland actually accounts for 60% of all Dutch cheese production. Gouda cheese is one of Holland’s biggest exports, arguably among the most popular cheeses in the world. This is despite the fact that Gouda cheese isn’t actually produced in Gouda but in the farms that surround the city, in Cheese Valley territory.

There’s much more to this medieval market city than cheese, though. There are lots of different things to do in Gouda and as it’s such a small city, its meandering cobbled streets and picture-perfect canals are perfect for exploring by foot – or by boat, if you prefer.

8 unmissable things to do in Gouda

Pop to the Gouda Cheese Market

The sleepy city of Gouda comes to life every Thursday from April to August, when farmers from neighbouring towns travel to Gouda to sell their wares to traders at the infamous Gouda Cheese Market. Held in front of Gouda’s 13th Century City Hall in the Markt from around 10am until 12.30pm, the market still bears many of the same hallmarks and customs today as it did when it first began in the 12th Century.

Arrive early to see the cheese wheels delivered by horse and cart and watch the farmers stacking up their cheeses ready for sale. When trading begins, see how a traditional Dutch cheese deal goes down as the farmers and traders clap their hands to agree to a sale.

Browse the never-ending variety of local cheeses, from cherry liqueur and tomato and basil, to Heineken cheese and my personal favourite, truffle cheese. Take my advice and fill every nook and cranny of your suitcase with truffle cheese; you’ll only regret it if you don’t!

Markt 35 | 2801 JK Gouda, Netherlands

Explore Goudse Waag, Cheese and Crafts Museum

You can’t visit Gouda Cheese Market without popping into Goudse Waag. Built in 1668, Goudse Waag was once used as a Weighing House for the Cheese Market.

Today, it’s home to a museum boasting an interesting collection of historical cheese-making equipment telling the story of how Gouda cheese is made, in addition to a selection of locally made natural wax candles and clay pipes.

The ground floor of the museum hosts a museum shop selling a range of cheeses and cheesy souvenirs, from ‘Gouda’-branded cheese slicers to wooden clogs.

Meanwhile, the picture-perfect tasting room on the first floor hosts cheese and wine tastings from just €7.50 per person, or €12.50 with wine.

Take a seat at the dining table, overlooking the luminous blue kitchen cabinets and the original weighing scale used to weigh cheese – the bascule.

Listen as your host unravels the history of the building you’re sitting in and reveals the story behind the cheeses you’re tasting.

It’s free to enter the museum shop but in order to enter the museum itself, there’s a fee of €4.50 per person or €12.50 for a family ticket. Goudse Waag is open year-round, although opening days and hours vary throughout the year; please check the website for further information.

Goudse Waag | Markt 35, 2801 JK Gouda, Netherlands | +31 182 529 996

Go cheese-shopping

If you haven’t managed to satisfy your cheesy cravings after a trip to Gouda Cheese Market or Goudse Waag, it’s time to hit the shops. The cheese shops.

Besides the museum shop at Goudse Waag, Gouda is home to three independent cheese shops including ‘t Kaaswinkeltje on Tiendeweg, Kaas van Kees on Hoogstraat & Gouds Kaashuis at Korte Groenendaal.

These shops sell every kind of cheese under the sun, right through from traditional Gouda cheese and smoked cheese, to black lemon-infused cheese, blue lavender cheese and even hemp cheese. Nibble on the samples and see what takes your fancy.

All of these shops can be found in the centre of Gouda, within walking distance from each other.

Visit Museum Gouda

Museum Gouda is home to a variety of relics depicting the tale of Gouda, from 16th Century altarpieces and Middle Age torture devices, to 17th Century civil guard portraits and hundreds of pieces of world-famous Gouda Pottery. What’s more, the museum also houses a number of French and 19th Century-Dutch paintings by artists such as Daubigny, Fantin-Latour, Israels and Weissenbruch.

The museum is open year-round from Tuesday until Sunday from 11am until 5pm. Entrance costs €10 for adults and €4 for children.

Museum Gouda | Achter de Kerk 14, 2801 JX Gouda, Netherlands

Admire Sint-Janskerk (St. John’s Church)

The longest church in the Netherlands at 123m long, Sint Jan is a jewel in Gouda’s crown, named after the patron saint of the city, St. John. This magnificent building has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status for its collection of 72 world-famous stained glass windows, some of which are 20m in height.

Despite being an atheist, as soon as I step foot into this gigantic Gothic church, I was filled with awe, taken aback by the sheer glory and beauty of the colourful beams of light radiating through the stained glass windows.

These windows were added following the great fire of 1552, which destroyed medieval Sint Jans, prompting administrators to commission the construction of the most impressive church in the Netherlands. Although the altars and saint statues were removed in 1573, after the church fell into Protestant hands during the Dutch Revolt, the windows were left intact.

The church is open to the public year-round from 9am – 5pm, and admission currently costs €7 for adults, including a complimentary audio guide. Arrive early if you’re hoping to get some tourist-free shots from inside the church.

Sint-Janskerk | Achter de Kerk 2, 2801 JW Gouda, Netherlands

Make your own siroopwafel

Stroopwafels can be found in abundance throughout the Netherlands, but in the tiny town of Gouda, you’ll find another variation on these golden, sugary waffles – the siroopwafel. While a traditional Dutch stroopwafel is slightly undercooked, filled with dark treacle and sliced into two thin halves, a siroopwafel consists of two crispy baked waffles with a caramel centre.

Kamphuisen Siroopwafelfabriek

Sitting opposite Gouda’s old Town Hall, Kamphuisen is a traditional siroopwafel bakery that offers visitors the opportunity to take an interactive guided tour of the production process and make their very own siroopwafel. Step inside and lose yourself in the sweet, buttery aromas as you discover the traditional method used to produce these scrumptious siroopwafels since 1810. Rumour has it that the original recipe is locked away in a secure safe in the attic of the building.

A 60-minute tour of Kamphuisen costs €8.95, or €12.95 if you fancy a hot drink and a siroopwafel as well (and who wouldn’t!) A family ticket is also available at a cost of €29.95. The bakery is open from Mondays to Saturdays, but closed on Sundays.

Kamphuisen Siroopwafelfabriek| Markt 69, 2801 JM Gouda, Netherlands

Van Vliet/Van den Berg

Cherished family-run bakery, Van den Berg has been baking Gouda siroopwafels for over a hundred years to a time-old, secret recipe. The Van Vliet side of the business officially launched the siroopwafels in 1989 and they’ve been flying off the shelves ever since.

It’s not just syrup waffles you’ll find here, either. You can also get syrup waffle liqueur, syrup waffle cake, chocolate syrups and a variety of other siroopwafel-inspired souvenirs.

Van den Berg Siroopwafel Bakery, Bakkerscafé and Winkel | Lange Groenendaal 32, Gouda

Marvel at the Stadhuis (Town Hall)

One of the oldest Gothic town halls in the Netherlands, this wondrous 15th Century limestone structure makes you feel as though you’ve taken a trip back in time, with its pointy turrets and windows flanked by red-and-white covers. Inside, the building is adorned with intricate tapestries woven by Gouda-born David Ruffelaer for a 17th Century royal visit.

Two minutes after the clock strikes every hour and half hour, the carillon (musical chimes) on the side of the town hall start ringing and a group of puppets re-enact the ceremony in which Gouda was granted its muncipal rights by Floris V of Holland in 1272.

Today, the Stadhuis is used to host weddings and council chamber meetings. If you visit Gouda during December, you’ll find the city hall lit up by thousands of candles for the annual Gouda bij Kaarslicht (Gouda by Candlelight) event.

Stadhuis | Markt, 2801 JW Gouda, Netherlands |+31 88 000 1505

Take a free walking tour

Gouda’s compact size makes it ideal for a group or self-guided walking tour, like the ones offered by Gouda Guides Guild.

While its easy to locate well-known attractions like Sint-Janskerk and the Town Hall when visiting Gouda, you might otherwise overlook some of the lesser known historical landmarks and buildings that’ve played a significant role in Gouda’s history and development.

Embark on a self-guided walking tour using the little guidebook from Gouda Guides Guild and within just two hours, you’ll have ticked off 30 of Gouda’s most iconic monuments. Highlights include the Lazarus Gate leading up to Museum Gouda, St. Catherine’s Hospital and Gardens, and the Jewish Gateway.

If you’d prefer to book a tour in advance, check out the options below. GetYourGuide have a great reputation for their tours and I often consider using them myself.

Getting to Gouda

Based in the heart of South Holland, Gouda is easily accessible via the major cities of Utretcht, Amsterdam, the Hague and Rotterdam. Gouda can be reached from either of these starting points within about 55 mins by train, with several trains operating every hour.

Where to eat in Gouda

Koeien en Kaas

Perched directly behind the Cheese and Crafts Museum, Koein en Kaas is ideally located for lunch after a trip to the Cheese Market on Thursdays. As the restaurant’s name implies, the focus is on beef and cheese – the perfect pairing!

Tuck into a rich cheese fondue, meaty burger or juicy steak cooked to order, all served with homemade cheese sauce and dips. All the ingredients used in the restaurant are locally sourced, using seasonal produce wherever possible. The meat comes from local farmers from the Groene Hart region, who the restaurant owners know and trust. Prices are fairly reasonable – on par with what you’d expect at other restaurants in the local area.

Koeien en Kaas is open every day of the week, from 5pm onwards. On Thursdays (the day of the Cheese Market), the restaurant also opens for lunch.

Koeien en Kaas | Achter de Waag 20, 2801 JA, Gouda

Hofje Van Jongkind

Nestled within former Medieval almshouses lovingly repurposed as a laid-back, homely restaurant and cafe, Hofje Van Jongkind has been a hit with locals and visitors alike since opening around a year ago.

If these walls could talk, no doubt they’d tell a thousand tales. The building was used to store furniture for years until it was taken over by the current owners, who managed to restore it to the lovely little cafe we see today within just eight weeks. The terraced almshouses have been left intact, right down to the numbers hanging outside each door.

Where the menu is concerned, light bites, sumptuous salads and thickly-filled sandwiches take centre-stage, making this quirky little cafe a prime contender for the title of best brunch spot around. Order the avocado truffle, filled with soft goat cheese and served with a stunning salad jewelled with pomegranate seeds.

Alternatively, choose the roast ham and cheese sandwich, inspired by the infamous Harry’s Bar, Cipriani in Venice, best known for its cocktails, carpaccio and celebrity clientele. Don’t forget to leave without treating yourself to something sweet; the meringues are particularly worth a taste!

Hofje van Jongkind | Zeugstraat 28, 2801 JC, Gouda

Restaurant Brunel

Established over 30 years ago, Restaurant Brunel has more than stood the test of time and after tasting the food for myself, it’s clear to see why.

A starter of scallops with Parma ham, sea asparagus and citrus sauce (almost like an orange-infused Hollandaise) set the bar sky-high for the main course to follow, but it was no match for the subsequent fleshy tournedos in beefy truffle sauce.

Standing overlooking the canal on Hoge Gouwe, this is the ideal spot for a romantic meal or a celebration with friends and family, especially during the warmer months. Prices are slightly above the norm, but it’s somewhat classier here than at most other local restaurants and a three-course set menu is available at a cost of just €26.50.

Hoge Gouwe 23, 2801 LA Gouda, Netherlands

David’s Gelateria

Every time I pass David’s Gelato parlour at the junction between Tiendeweg, Zeugstraat and Jerusalemstraat, the queue trailing out the door tells me I need to check it out for myself – not to mention the countless recommendations from locals!

Available in a variety of flavours, the gelato is hand-crafted using locally sourced fresh fruit and fresh milk. Waffles, milkshakes, crepes and coffee are also available. The double scoop strawberry and passion fruit gelato is sweet and fruity, with a subtle sharpness. It’s so big, it takes me half an hour to eat and I end up with it all over me, but I love every minute of it.

Since my visit to Gouda, David’s Gelateria has also opened David’s Gelato Cafe on the Gouda Markt square.

David’s Gelateria | Lange Tiendeweg 23, 2801 KE Gouda, Netherlands

Where to stay in Gouda

When considering where to stay in Gouda, you’re not exactly spoilt for choice. This tiny city is dotted with little guesthouses, B&B’s, apartments and boutique hotels, while bigger hotels and resorts are practically unheard of, aside for the Campanile Hotel and Restaurant and the Best Western Plus City Hotel.

Guesthouse De Utrechtsche Dom 

Guesthouse De Utrechtsche Dom is a great place to base yourself for exploring all that Gouda has to offer.

The guesthouse is situated right at the heart of the city centre, so wherever you want to go, the chances are it’ll be less than a ten-minute walk away.

With rooms priced from around £65 or €72 per night, this is one of the cheapest places to stay in Gouda. Don’t expect a luxury stay, but the rooms are spotlessly clean and comfortable, with all essential amenities. The room rate also includes a decent continental breakfast, served in the dining room on the ground floor.  

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