Theme Week Netherlands – Gouda, historic town in the green heart of the Netherlands
Tuesday, 27 March 2012 - 11:24 am (CET/MEZ) Berlin | Author/Destination: European Union / Europäische Union General
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Building at Market Square housing the tourist information © Afhaalchinees
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Gouda (population 71,000) is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. In the Middle Ages, a settlement was founded at the location of the current city by the Van der Goude family, who built a fortified castle alongside the banks of the Gouwe River, from which the family and the city took its name. The area, originally marshland, developed over the course of two centuries. By 1225, a canal was linked to the Gouwe and its estuary was transformed into a harbour. Gouda’s array of historic churches and other buildings makes it a very popular day trip destination.
Gouda is world famous for its Gouda cheese, which is still traded in its cheese market, held each Thursday. It is further well-known for the fabrication of candles, smoking pipes, and stroopwafels. Gouda used to have a considerable linen industry and a number of beer breweries. The world famous Gouda cheese is not made in the city itself but in the surrounding region. It derives its name from being traded in Gouda where the city council imposes stringent quality controls.
Building at Market Square housing the tourist information © Afhaalchinees
Attractions are, beside others: The Old City Hall at the market, built between 1448 and 1450, one of the oldest Gothic city halls in the Netherlands, and The Waag (weigh house), built in 1667 across from the Old City Hall, this building was used for weighing goods to levy taxes. It now is a national monument.
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