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Home - Travel Destinations - Gouda Netherlands – 7 Best Things To Do (Hidden Gems & Local Favorites)
If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.
We link to affiliated partners at no extra cost to you.
Gouda in the Netherlands, a Dutch city in the south of Amsterdam in the province of South Holland: Best Things to do
Gouda might be famous for its cheese, but there’s much more waiting once you wander its streets. This Dutch town is easy to explore on foot, with charming canals, quiet courtyards, and quirky local stops that don’t feel touristy.
Gouda Cheese
Siroopwafels (Syrup Waffles)
Monuments and Museums
It’s no surprise you’ll find excellent cheese shops, museums, and even factories all over town. Here are a few worth stopping at:
In my opinion it is no wonder that you will find fantastic cheese shops, factories and museums all over town. I would suggest stopping at:
De Goudse Waag is a historic building dating back to 1668 – Book a private cheese tasting:
De Goudse Waag is one of Gouda’s most iconic buildings, dating back to 1668. This was once the official cheese-weighing station of the town — today, you can still feel the history inside its thick walls. Book a private Gouda cheese tasting for something truly special. There’s also a small museum where you can explore the story behind the building and learn about the goods once traded here. Don’t skip the museum shop — it’s packed with real Dutch cheeses and classic souvenirs that make perfect gifts (or snacks for later!).
You just have to buy and sample as many cheeses as you possibly can. Here are a few interesting shops where you can buy and sample cheese in Gouda:
Lange Tiendeweg 15, Gouda
This is not just a shop — it’s a full experience. You can take a short, self-guided tour that shows how the famous Kamphuisen stroopwafels have been made since 1810. Watch the process from start to finish: the baking, the cutting, and the filling with that warm syrup. They’re slightly different from the typical stroopwafels you’ll find at markets — thinner, crispier, and still made to a centuries-old recipe. The best part? Warm samples at the end.
Entrance is inexpensive (and sometimes free with a Gouda city card or combination ticket).
Central to the market square is ‘Het Oude Stadhuys’. This beautiful old town hall with its red shutters is often used for business meetings, events, and weddings. It is also often the backdrop to beautiful Instagram photos as well as the Gouda Christmas Candle light Festival.
The ever impressive Sint-Janskerk or St John is the longest church in the Netherlands and has 72 beautifully stained glass windows. Visit this beautiful church while you’re there. You can book your tickets online. The church is completely dependent on its own income and donations, so your visit will help them a great deal. Furthermore you get to see something really special: Like the glass of Philip II which are up to 20 meters high. A good tip would be to go on a very sunny day to experience the light shining through the windows.
The Gouda museum houses 16th century religious art, works by The Hague School and 20th century pottery and is well worth a visit. During summer time you can enjoy the walled courtyard of the Catherina Gasthuis for something to drink.
Gouda in Netherlands has 355 Monuments to discover. Here is a link to get more updated info on all of them. 
Discover the monuments of Gouda
The best tours in Gouda according to Viator travelers are:
Click on photo for link to these tours and more.
Tucked behind old facades, these peaceful courtyard gardens are free to enter and full of charm.
Gouda has several charming historical courtyards, including Hofje van Cincq, Swanenburgh’s Hofje, and Hofje van Letmaet. They’re tucked away and easy to miss, but that’s part of their charm. Just follow the small tourist signs marked ‘Hofje’ — with a bit of curiosity, you’ll discover a few of these quiet hidden spots.
Just behind Sint Janskerk, you’ll find a peaceful stretch of canal along Jeruzalemstraat. It’s quiet, with little foot traffic, and the reflections here are postcard-perfect. Sit on the edge or lean on the bridge and watch the light shift on the water.
Some shops offer hand-painted mini tiles or small dishes with Gouda scenes — ideal if you want something long-lasting and distinctly Dutch.
During Christmas time if you ask any local what Gouda is famous for, the answer would be Cheese and the Candle Light Festival…
This traditional and magical event has been part of Gouda in the Netherlands for more than 60 years. People from all over the world come to witness this special event. Kongsberg in Norway each year sends Gouda a giant specially selected Christmas tree as a gift.
This is the most famous Christmas event in town — and one of the most romantic in the Netherlands.
It usually takes place in mid-December, for one night only.
At sunset, all the lights in the historic center are turned off, and the entire Markt square is lit by thousands of candles placed in windows.
The Stadhuis (Town Hall) glows with candlelight and becomes the backdrop for music, choir performances, and a festive Christmas story.
Here is a link to their website for updated and latest information and news as well as the fascinating story behind the Christmas Tree: Gouda Bij Kaarslicht
But any other time of the year, no one can mistake the fact that Gouda is famous and well known for its cheese: Specifically Gouda Cheese.