Cheese is something that is a very big part of every Dutch meal. That’s because it is produced in many parts of the country and exported across the world. Now eating cheese in Amsterdam is fine but if you want to take things to another level, you should visit one of the Dutch cheese villages.
I recently had the opportunity to explore Gouda and boy did the city meet and surpass my expectations. Located a short distance away from Amsterdam, you will find plenty of things to do in Gouda that will keep you enthralled through a whole day. Despite being a touristy town it was not very crowded. There were also a number of unique attractions in Gouda that fascinated us.
Many people automatically associate Gouda to the famous Gouda cheese that is exported all over the world, the city of Gouda has a lot of history. You can spot structures that date back to the year 1000-1600! In fact, one of the fun things to do in Gouda is to search for structures that were constructed before the 1600s.
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How To Get From Amsterdam To Gouda
Getting from Amsterdam to Gouda is pretty easy because the train network connects both cities. You can get an intercity from Amsterdam Centraal station. It will take a little under an hour to reach Gouda if you get a direct train. If you decide to drive here, you will find parking along the ring road. This is public paid paid parking. The parking garages towards the center are generally very expensive so look at the spots a little away from the main part of the city.
The city is pretty walkable so even if you park a little further away, you will find that the things to do in Gouda are pretty accessible by foot.
Things To Do In Gouda, Netherlands
1. Stadhuis
The Stadhuis or the town hall is one of the most impressive buildings in Gouda. It towers over the square and it has such pretty windows. While standing infront of the Stadhuis and taking photographs is fun, there’s more to be seen inside the building. You do have to pay and entrance fee to see it though.
On the right side of the building there is an old clock with movable figurines. These move every time the bells chime at an hour and a half hour interval. Try and time your visit to the Stadhuis to coincide with the chimes.
2. Nieuwe Market
The Nieuwe market is located around the Stadhuis. This market is open on Thursday in the morning between 8:30-13:30 and on Saturdays the whole day. That is between 8:00-17:00.
We visited Gouda on a Saturday and got to indulge in this market throughout the day. Trust me, you’ll find that food here is pretty awesome and cheap. There are loads of local delicacies. Some of our favorites were the grilled wurst or grilled sausages, hamburgers, stroopwafels, hot soup, cheese and more. Yes we ate it all during our time in the city. It’s a foodie’s dream!
3. The Goudse Wag
⭐️ Rating: 4.3/5 (47 Reviews) Price: $8 per person Duration: Valid for 1 day 📍Meeting Point: The Goudse Wag Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
The Goudse Wag is rather hard to miss especially if you are walking around the Stadhuis of Gouda. The building is one of the historic buildings in the city and is therefore one of the attractions of Gouda. The building was designed by Pieter Post. Back in the day, both Amsterdam and Rotterdam were harbors and goods made their way between the cities. Gouda was an important stop along the way.
The goods that were ferried along made a stop at the Goudse Wag where they were weighed. Any goods above 10 pounds were taxed here.
The Goudse Wag has more to offer than just its façade and structure. The building houses a shop where you can get souvenirs from Gouda.
“Educational, fun and especially the young lady at reception was very nice! The children have their own explanation (audio), while they can follow along with their parents. My daughter (10) even listened with fascination until the end!!”
Simone (read more reviews now!)
It also houses a museum. In this museum you can see how the cheese was weighed. You will also see how cheese was made and traded. Since the city exported and still exports high quality cheese all over the world, this is one of the most visited things to do in Gouda.
4. Indulge In Stroopwafels
Now if you are lucky enough to visit on a Thursday or on a Saturday, you can have a stroopwafel from one of the stalls in the market. They have a variety of different options.
Some are loaded with Biscoff or chocolate or even candy. These are popular on social media but they are very very sweet. Definitely something that looks extremely pretty but I need to share it with three people to finish one.
My recommendation is to try the plain stroopwafel aka the original. These are sweet but not overtly so. Pair the original stroopwafel with a cup of black Dutch coffee. Sans coffee of course! You’ll find that the stroopwafel does not taste too sweet.
Since the stroopwafel was originally invented in the city, it is one of the things to do in Gouda that should not be missed.
5. Museum Gouda
⭐️ Rating: 4.8/5 (5 Reviews) Price: $15.45 per person Duration: Valid for 1 day 📍Meeting Point: Museum Gouda Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
The Museum Gouda is one of those things to do in Gouda that you should not miss. The museum chronicles the history of the city. I particularly loved the exhibit where you could look at a miniature version of the city and listen to how the city evolved over time.
Did you know that Gouda was a walled city and was well defended against the outside? You can still see the canals that circle the city even though the walls aren’t still in existence.
In addition to this, Museum Gouda has some very interesting art, loads of Gouda pottery and even a torture cellar.
The torture cellar is particularly cool because you need to wear glasses provided by the museum and shine a UV light to read a story that is written on the ground.
There are even activities for children and these activities change around. So make sure you ask about it. One of the pro tips that I will give you is to make sure that you take a map when you enter. At first, I thought that the museum was small. Later I felt as if it extended on forever.
6. Saint-John Church
⭐️ Rating: 4.6/5 (19 Reviews) Price: $12 per person Duration: Valid for 1 day 📍Meeting Point: Saint John Church Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
One of the most prominent landmarks in Gouda is the Saint John church. It is located in the heart of the city and has a lot of history linked to it. Entrance into this church is charged but if you have a museumkaart, you can enter the church for free. The ticket to the church comes with a free audio guide. The audio guide is available in numerous languages including German, Dutch and English.
Now there are two ways to take the tour. You can choose to just listen to the stories on your way or you can take the whole tour. The whole tour takes about 30 minutes and it guides you through all sections of the church.
One of the most notable features of the church are its large stained glass windows. Each of these tells a story from the bible. Many were donated to the church. The stained glass windows remained intact during World War II because they were dismantled and hidden in large wooden boxes.
The church has a lot of other stories that you will hear while you walk through. We found the attendants very helpful and the church was gorgeous both inside and out. Definitely one of the things to do in Gouda that I would recommend.
7. Gouda Cheese Experience
⭐️ Rating: 4.6/5 (115 Reviews) Price: $17.05 per person Duration: Valid for 1 day 📍Meeting Point: Gouda Cheese Experience Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
Most people who come to Gouda head straight to the Gouda Cheese Experience. This is located just on the banks of the canal but on the outskirts of the inner city.
The Gouda cheese experience is an interactive experience where you learn how cheese was and is prepared in Gouda. Here you will learn about how the milk is processed and even take part in virtual milking of a cow. You will then see how the turning of the cheese is done.
Hand clapping was the traditional way in which people negotiated the price of cheese. You can see and learn how this was done here.
“It was fantastic. You first see a cartoon, then you listen to all kinds of information from the cow to the cheese at your own pace with an earphone, in which you can regularly participate actively. At the end a tasting of 5 cheeses. I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
Ann (read more reviews now!)
8. Visit Kamphuisen
⭐️ Rating: 4.3/5 (67 Reviews) Price: $12.25 per person Duration: Valid for 1 day 📍Meeting Point: Kamphuisen Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
Many people do not know that the famous Dutch stroopwafels were invented in Gouda. Back then a baker had made them using bread crumbs and stroop (syrup). Most people link the original stroopawafel to Baker Kamphuisen. That is why one of the best kept secrets of this town is to visit Kamphuisen. The original site where stroopwafels came into existence.
Kamphuisen has a store and you can walk in and buy some of the original stroopwafel. They also sell some interesting Dutch stroop aka the syrup that is used when making the stroopwafel. The syrup also pairs well with pancakes and waffles.
If you are curious about the process in which these stroopwafels and the syrup is made, you can take a tour of the factory. Here you will get a chance to eat it hot. You can even choose to pair it with a cup of tea or coffee.
“Very informative, the shop was easy to find, staff great and well-structured tour 🙂 Was a lot of fun, I did it on my own, so I just joined the group on the tour, and everyone was every accommodating. I definitely recommend this tour and they are definitely the freshest, best tasting waffles in the country.”
Rachelle (read more reviews now!)
Don’t forget to balance the stroopwafel on top of your cup so that the steam of the beverage will melt the syrup inside the waffle. That’s the way it is served across the country. These stroopwafels make excellent Dutch souvenirs to take back home.
Visiting the stroopwafel factory is definitely one of the lesser know things to do in Gouda. If you have time, I highly recommend trying it out.
As you can see there are a number of things to do in Gouda, Netherlands. You can easily keep busy the whole day. Since the activities are both indoors and outdoors, there are something things to do in Gouda even when the weather is not good.
Have you visited Gouda? What were your favorite things to do in Gouda? Let us know in the comments below.