My name is Amy and I am the travel blogger behind www.templeseeker.com, the cultural travel blog that focuses on Europe, North Africa and Asia. I am curently enjoying a two week trip in the Netherlands and I am here with my dog Blake, the Patterdale cross! Blakey dog is getting used to the trains, so we have started to do some day trips from Rotterdam. Lot’s of people have been asking me lately ‘Is Gouda worth visiting?’ and so I headed there myself this week to find out!
How long should I spend in Gouda?
Gouda is honestly really small and so it is one of those destinations that you can easily do as a day trip from Rotterdam or Amsterdam. As cute as it is, I wouldn’t really say that it warrants longer than a day to see the market, city hall, cheese museum (in the old weighing house) and Sint Janskerk. Half a day would be sufficient to see these and then you can probably add on a canal boat ride to your itinerary if you spend a full day there. It is definitely a much slower paced and more relaxed atmosphere than Amsterdam and Rotterdam, but the main square can get busy on market days.
How to get to Gouda
It is easy to get to Gouda by train and the main square and cheese market are walkable from Gouda train station. This part of the Netherlands is very easy to get around on public transport. We took the train from Rotterdam Central and it was only about 20 minutes. From Amsterdam, the train takes around 55 minutes. My best advice is to get there as early as possible to see the main buildings before the droves of tourists come in from around 11am onwards. Book your train tickets on the NS Train App and remember to travel with ID (tickets are attached to your name in the Netherlands and you may be asked to prove your identity in order to travel).
When to visit Gouda
The weather can be cold in the winter months and changeable in the shoulder seasons. The best time to visit Gouda is in the summer months when the weather is mild or sunny and the cheese market is on. If you are coming in by train as a day trip, aim to arrive around 9am if you can.
How to pronounce Gouda the Dutch Way!
Now, in England, we call the cheese Gooo-da! SO I had to re-learn how to say it properly the Dutch way, where the G becomes a H and you have to say how-da! If there are any Dutch people out there, please correct me if I am wrong! Also, please don’t take offence when I try to pronounce it on YouTube!
Is Gouda worth Visiting? Yes, but don’t miss the Cheese market!
So, here’s my confession! I went to Gouda and missed the cheese market! Essentially, I researched it and knew that it was every Thursday during the summer period. However, there is one Thursday when it is NOT on and that is Ascension Day! As I am Templeseeker, it is quite embarrassing that I went for the Cheese Market on Ascension day and actually missed the cheese! There was a lovely pottery and craft market on and we bought a gorgeous glass King Fisher as a souvenir. Don’t worry, we had two weeks in the Netherlands, so we returned the following week and thankfully did see the cheese!
The Cheese Market starts at 10am, but if you are going specifically for this, make sure that you get there earlier at around 9am or 9.30am, because you will see them setting up the cheese and they bring it in on horse drawn carts. Also, in the height of summer, it can get quite busy and you will want to secure a front spot to watch the handjeklap (handclap), which is a centuries old tradition where the customers clap hands with the vendor several times to agree the price of the cheese! You can also have your photo taken with the Kaasmeisje, the Dutch girls wearing traditional costume with pointy bonets, who promote the cheese!
Head straight to the town hall and the main square – they lay the cheese out on red carpets in front of the Gouda Stadhuis. It is walkable from the station in about 10-15 minutes.
Is Gouda Worth Visiting? What to see and do in Gouda
Of course, the main attraction of Gouda is the Cheese Market every Thursday in the summer, but there is a lot more to Gouda than just the Cheese Market!
De Waag – The Weighing House
The current Waag (Weighing House), located directly opposite the Stadhuis (Town Hall) was designed by architect Pieter Post and completed in 1668. Originally, lot’s of things were weighed at the Waag, but later it became limited to just cheese. You can pop in to see how cheese is weighed for free at the Waag and you can also visit the Museum part of the weigh house (paid tickets).
Stadhuis – City Hall
The city hall in Gouda is one of the most beautiful in the Netherlands and also one of the oldest and most stunning Gothic town halls in the the country. Built between 1448 and 1459 following a devastating city fire, it sits proudly in the center of the Markt square and is the backdrop to the famous Cheese Market. You can go inside the Town Hall and there is a small entrance fee of just a few EUROS. Sadly, the front of the Town Hall was covered in scaffolding at the time of my visit (May 2026).
Kaaswinkel Cheese Shop
My favourite Cheese shop in Gouda is the Kaaswinkel Cheese shop on the main square. They have some amazing cheeses including Lavender Gouda, Pesto Gouda and Chorizo Gouda. There are tasting samples so that you can try before you buy. Remember to say hello to the lovely Jesse, who is often cutting the cheese at the back of the shop!
Sint Janskerk Stained Glass Windows
My favourite part of my trip to Gouda was visiting Sint Janskerk. The Church started out as a small chapel in 1278, but went through several periods of development throughout the years. A devastating fire in 1552 meant that Sint Janskerk had to be completely rebuilt. Between 1555 and 1603, wealthy benefactors and royals (including Philip II of Spain) donated funds for 72 stained-glass windows to be constructed. The ticket to visit Sint Janskerk is €11 and this is totally worth it to see the light come through the windows, with their colourful biblical and apocryphal scenes.
Syrup waffle factory – Stroopwafels!
The city is the birthplace of the famous Dutch syrup waffle, which was invented here in the 19th century. If you have time, I would recommend a visit to the kamphuisen Syrup waffle factory. A tour of the factory takes around 45 minutes and you will get the chance to try lots of different flavours!
Groenendaal Quarter – The First fair trade streets in the Netherlands
You can check out the Lange and Korte Groenendaal, which are two historic streets that form the atmospheric Groenendaal Quarter in the center of Gouda. This authentic shopping area is known as the first Fairtrade street in the Netherlands and is completely free of large chain stores. The area offers a unique experience with a focus on independent shops, unique boutiques and vintage stores, with a focus on sustainability. Here you will find cozy lunchrooms (such as Van der Berg, where stroopwafels are baked) and artisan shops.
See the windmills
The Netherlands has a famous history of windmills, because the flat land and high winds created the perfect conditions for the mills. Gouda boasts two historic, city-center windmills that perfectly complement its’ famous cheese and stroopwafel heritage: Molen ‘t Slot and Molen De Roode Leeuw. You can walk to these in just 10-15 minutes from Markt. De Roode Leeuw (the Red Lion) is still a working flour mill dating from 1727, where you can still buy freshly ground flour.
Where to Stay in Gouda
As Gouda can be seen in a day, it is not really worth staying over, because you can do it as a day trip from Rotterdam, Amsterdam or Utrecht. However, if you want to stay overnight to get to the cheese market early, or have a smaller base, then there are several nice places to stay…
- Relais & Châteaux Weeshuis Gouda – A unique setting in a historic building with a garden and terrace, in the heart of Gouda.
- City Hotel Gouda, WorldHotels Crafted Collection – Modern and stylish hotel in the centre of Gouda, rooms have a flat-screen TV. Located only 550 metres from the Markt.
Top Tips for Visiting Gouda
- Go on Cheese Market day to enjoy the Dutch cheese traditions.
- Go inside my favourite cheese shop – Kaaswinkel Gouda.
- Avoid cheese market day if you do not love cheese and you want to visit when it is calmer and quieter to do photography or relax.
- Take plenty of Euros in cash as some of the outdoor market stalls don’t accept card.
- If time allows, take a canal boat trip (there is even a cheese boat!)
- Don’t miss the city hall, the weighing house, the cheese market and Sint Janskerk (with its’ gorgeous stained glass windows).
- Allow some time to walk along the beautiful canals and do some photography.
Pros and Cons of Gouda
Pros – Gouda is the perfect place for cheese lovers! It is picturesque with some lovely architecture and a slower pace than Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
Cons – It is quite small so not really worth more than a day. There is not much happening in Gouda unless you go on a cheese market day (Thursday).
Is Gouda worth Visiting? Overall Verdict
My overall verdict is that yes, Gouda is worth visiting, especially on a cheese market day. In fact, even if you go on a day with no cheese market (happy Ascension day!) then I would say it is still worth it. If you have a spare day in the Netherlands, then don’t miss a day trip to Gouda. However, don’t choose a few days in Gouda over a few days in Amsterdam or The Hague as there is much more to see there. Gouda is a nice day trip from a base in Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Utrecht.
Further Reading on Travel in the Netherlands
I hope that you enjoyed my article on ‘Is Gouda worth visiting?’ I totally love the Netherlands – it is full of historical architecture, beautiful canals, interesting museums and great food. If you would like to read more on travel in the Netherlands, check out these blogs…