Discover Gouda: Cheese, Canals and History

Gouda Between Cheese, Canals and Urban History

Gouda combines cheese, canals and urban history. The city has a protected historic townscape. An interactive cheese tour, museums, the cheese market and canal cruises offer different ways to explore the city. A visit can alternate between culinary stops, museum spaces and trips on the water. Those who want to discover Gouda through its specialities can visit the Gouda Cheese Experience, the cheese market and the Kamphuisen Siroopwafelfabriek.

Cheese, Syrup Waffles and Living Traditions

At the Gouda Cheese Experience, Gouda cheese is presented through an interactive tour. The tour covers its history, production and trade. Visitors can also sample the cheese there. The Gouda Cheese Experience includes interactive activities such as virtual milking, turning cheeses and the traditional handjeklap.

The Gouda Kaasmarkt features stalls selling regional products as well as a craft market. Visitors can also watch cheese being unloaded and weighed on the original scales at De Goudse Waag. Another culinary stop is the Kamphuisen Siroopwafelfabriek. It is based on a secret recipe for Kamphuisen syrup waffles dating from 1810; visitors can experience how Goudse Siroopwafels are made there. At the market, visitors can observe how cheese is handled, while the factory demonstrates the production of the syrup waffles.

Museums in Historic Buildings

Museum Gouda is housed in a medieval building. The museum contains a model of Gouda from 1562. It also displays Gouds plateel, meaning artistically decorated utilitarian and ornamental ceramics. Visitors interested in culture will encounter the medieval building, the 1562 city model and Gouds plateel at Museum Gouda.

Museum de Goudse Waag tells the story of Gouda, its trade and the products that were weighed and traded there. The Waag focuses on goods and trade in the city. Its themes range from the city’s history to the handling of products that were weighed and traded.

Canals and Historic Ships

Canal cruises pass through the historic heart of Gouda. The boats pass centuries-old warehouses, charming bridges and stately façades that tell the story of Gouda’s history. From the boat, the historic façades, bridges and warehouses appear together in a single view of the city’s waterfront.

At Museumhaven Gouda, historic ships are continuously restored and maintained by the boatmen who live there, using traditional craftsmanship wherever possible, so that they can continue to sail. At the museum harbour, the traditional work on historic ships remains visible. The historic ships remain seaworthy because their maintenance is continued on an ongoing basis.

For your planning, please note that Het oude Stadhuis will be closed for renovation from summer 2025 until summer 2027.

For the overview of the wider trip: Gouda.