A day trip to Gouda: the complete guide

Gouda is much more than cheese and stroopwafels, although neither should be missing from a proper day out. The city on the Hollandse IJssel holds centuries of history, impressive architecture and a lively city centre that draws visitors all year round. And at the heart of it all: the Markt, with Gouds Glas as your home base for lunch, dinner or a good glass of wine.

Start the day: arriving in Gouda

Gouda is very easy to reach by train. The station is a few minutes' walk from the Markt. Coming by car? There are several car parks close to the centre, including the car park on Nieuwe Australiëweg (P+R) and the De Baan car park next to the station.

From the station, the Kleiweg takes you straight to the Markt. On the way you pass the historic facades of the city centre. Take a moment to admire them. Gouda has more listed monuments per square kilometre than almost any other Dutch city.

St John's Church: a must-see

A day in Gouda without St John's Church (Sint-Janskerk) is not a complete day in Gouda. The church is the longest in the Netherlands (123 metres) and houses 72 stained-glass windows that rank among the finest in the world. The windows date from the 16th and 17th centuries and tell biblical and historical stories in an explosion of colour and light.

A special detail: the name of our restaurant, Gouds Glas, is directly inspired by these windows. The warmth, the light and the colour that falls through glass; that is the atmosphere we try to recreate on the Markt every day.

Allow at least an hour for the church. Admission is very reasonable and it is the most visited paid monument in the Netherlands outside the Randstad.

The Markt and the Town Hall

The beating heart of Gouda is the Markt, one of the largest market squares in the Netherlands. The Gothic Town Hall (1450) stands right in the middle and is the oldest free-standing town hall in the country. Every Thursday in the summer months the historic cheese market takes place here, where cheese carriers in traditional dress weigh and inspect the farmers' cheeses.

Around the Markt you will also find countless other sights, shops and terraces. Gouds Glas is right on the Markt at number 40, the perfect place to recharge.

Museum Gouda and the city centre

Museum Gouda (Oosthaven 9) shows the city's rich art collection, including paintings from the Gouda School and a large collection of Delft Blue. The museum is also a lovely place for children thanks to its interactive exhibitions.

After that, Achter de Kerk and Lange Groenendaal are highly recommended: the narrowest streets in Gouda, full of small shops and artisan bakers. Take a real Gouda stroopwafel home as a souvenir: they are at their best here, fresh from the waffle maker.

Lunch or dinner on the Markt

After a morning of walking and exploring, a good lunch is more than well deserved. At Gouds Glas we serve a seasonal menu with fresh produce: homemade soups, generous salads, crusty sandwiches and always something tasty from the grill. Our kitchen opens daily at 10:00.

Want to stay longer? Then dinner at Gouds Glas is the perfect end to your day in Gouda. A good glass of wine, looking out over the illuminated Markt. That is the finest way to end a day in Gouda.

The Reeuwijkse Plassen (bonus)

Just 5 kilometres from Gouda lie the Reeuwijkse Plassen, a recreation area with lakes, beaches and cycling routes. In summer, a perfect addition to your day out. Hire a canoe, cycle along the water and then settle in for a long dinner on the Markt.

Practical information

• Getting there: Train from Utrecht (25 min), Amsterdam (45 min), The Hague (30 min)
• Parking: P+R Nieuwe Australiëweg, De Baan car park (next to the station)
• St John's Church: Achter de Kerk 16, open Mon to Sat 9:00 to 17:00 (Nov to Mar until 16:00)
• Cheese market: Thursdays from April to August, 10:00 to 12:30
• Gouds Glas: Markt 40, open Mon to Sat from 10:00