Gouda: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

The focus is on Gouda, where impressive cultural history, historic waterways, cheese-making traditions and paths through the countryside are closely intertwined. Particularly striking is the connection between the past and vibrant interpretation: Museum Gouda preserves a unique collection of 16th-century altarpieces that survived the Beeldenstorm, and also offers a digital journey through time based on a detailed city model of Gouda from 1562.

Culture

The historic fabric includes almost 1,250 listed monuments, including nearly 900 municipal monuments and around 350 national monuments. The Goudse Waag was designed by Pieter Post in 1668; the original scales can be viewed inside the building. As Museum de Goudse Waag, it presents the history of Gouda, its trade and the products that were weighed and traded there. At the Sint-Janskerk, a free audio tour allows visitors to discover hidden treasures in about 40 minutes. Special features include the 72 colourful stained-glass windows by the Crabeth brothers, known as the Goudse Glazen, which are considered unique in the world.

In mid-2018, the Cultuurhistorische Basiskaart of the municipality of Gouda was presented and made available online. In the municipal GIS, it provides a coherent picture of the landscape, structures, urban development and buildings. Even without a digital map, the historic character is immediately evident in the atmospheric canals and the magnificent, stately canal houses along which visitors can stroll.

Water

Museumhaven Gouda combines historic shipping with freely accessible exploration of the city. It comprises a collection of historic commercial watercraft as well as the Werfhuijs and the IJsselhuis. Three experience routes can be followed independently there around the clock, including a Museumhaven walk lasting around 60 minutes. Museumhaven Gouda can be visited free of charge and is open at all times; it is freely accessible, but the ships themselves cannot be visited because they are inhabited.

The water offers further varied perspectives. JabaSup organises SUP and canoe tours through Gouda’s historic canals. The city centre has a total of 200 moorings in its historic waterways. Reederij de IJsel offers canal cruises through the monumental city centre on the Trekschuiten Jan Salie or Jan Kordaat. Those exploring the city on foot will find themed city walks with Explore Gouda covering culture and history, crafts, shopping, food and nightlife, as well as family routes.

Flavour

Gouda showcases its culinary tradition at several specific locations. The Gouda Cheese Experience presents the history, production and trade of Gouda cheese through interactive activities and tastings. At the Kamphuisen Siroopwafelfabriek, a guided tour includes demonstrations of how syrup waffles are made, a syrup tasting and, at the end, a fresh warm waffle.

At the Gouda cheese market, the traditional hand-clapping between cheese traders, horse-drawn cheese carts and the weighing of the cheese on the original scales of the Goudse Waag are all part of the proceedings. There are also stalls selling regional products and a craft market.

Getting Around

Gouda railway station is a five-minute walk from the historic centre. As an Intercity station, it offers direct connections to Rotterdam, Utrecht and The Hague, among other destinations. For bicycles, there is a public, covered and supervised bicycle station at Nieuwe Markt with space for around 700 bicycles.

Outside the city centre, too, the routes pass through a variety of landscapes. Cycling routes from Gouda connect the historic city centre with cheese farms, meadows and the polders of the Groene Hart. A 12-kilometre cycling route leads from Gouda to Reeuwijk and the Reeuwijkse Plassen, and is also suitable for children. This route passes the Kinderboerderij De Goudse Hofsteden, which can be visited free of charge.

Family

For children, Museum Gouda offers a tablet tour, a life-size city model and an activity in the studio. The Dino Experience Park in Gouda features 70 lifelike dinosaurs. The children’s farm is located in a listed farmhouse dating from the early 20th century.

To the higher-level travel overview: South Holland.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Binnenmaas, Wassenaar, Delft, Dordrecht, Lisse, Ouderkerk, Goeree-Overflakkee.