Gouda develops into
Cheese City of the Netherlands!
For ages, Gouda cheese and cheese according to Gouda recipe have been conquering the world. Gouda cheese, or in Dutch: 'Goudse Kaas' is found on all continents. This site will take you right into the source of this cheese of world renown: the city of Gouda and its surrounding area.
It all started right here and as soon as the early Middle Ages. It mainly concerned the authentic farm cheeses produced in the traditional manner on the surrounding district farms. As all these products had to find their ways to the customer, Gouda grew into the centre of cheese trade because of its good location and ideal water connections with the surrounding places and the ocean port of Rotterdam. The venerable, ancient City Hall of Gouda became the core of the weekly 'Kaasmarkt' cheese market; a fine, bustling trading scene. In 1667 the Gouda city council acquired the right to levy duties on this profitable trade. Indeed, as early as this!
1668 therefore saw the construction of the 'De Waag' weighhouse across from the city hall. This was the place where the cheeses supplied and sold were weighed and taxes were determined. ÔGoudse KaasÕ developed into an increasingly important trading product and various cooperatives and trading houses were soon to establish themselves in and around Gouda.
By now Goudse Kaas is being produced according to its famous recipe all the world over. Still, for real, traditional Gouda farm cheese... the place to be is the Gouda district; places like Stolwijk, Haastrecht and de Krimpenerwaard polder.
Now what makes Gouda so unique is that all things said so far are still very much alive. Come to Gouda and feel, smell, taste and witness with your own eyes:
- the fine City Hall in the Markt;
- the 'Kaaswaag' weighhouse across from the City Hall;
- the weekly 'Kaasmarkt' traditional cheese market, held in the summer months;
- the cheese farms in the polders surrounding Gouda;
- the horse-and-waggon 'Cheese Express' city round trips on cheese market days;
- attractive cheese menus offered by the many restaurants and bustling city centre pavements.
Now that so many people all the world know about Gouda Cheese we are more than pleased to invite these same people to comer over for a visit to Gouda. Just experience the source of Gouda Cheese, discover its history and find out that, being an ancient city, Gouda has far, far more to offer for a pleasant single- or multi-day stay.
