Gouda

Gouda is located at the confluence of the rivers Gouwe and Hollandse IJssel. Thanks in part to the inland shipping along these rivers, Gouda grew into an important city during the Middle Ages. In 1272, the city was granted city rights, and by the end of the Middle Ages, Gouda had developed into the fifth largest city in Holland. The city center still boasts a considerable number of historical and monumental buildings, of which the Town Hall and St. John's Church are probably the most famous. The city is also known for its Gouda cheese, which is still traded at the Thursday tourist cheese market in summer. Finally, Gouda is known for the production of candles, pipes, and stroopwafels, as well as the annual Candles Evening.

For a long time, Gouda was referred to by other names such as Golde, Die Goude, Ter Goude, and Tergouw, all referring to the river Gouwe. The previously common name Golde was transformed into Goude or Ter Goude during the Middle Ages.

In 1361 and 1438, city fires caused significant damage in the city. It is said that only four houses survived the city fire of 1438.

In the last quarter of the 16th century, Gouda faced serious economic problems. In the first half of the 17th century, the city recovered, and between 1665 and 1672, the city even experienced a period of great progress and prosperity. However, when the disastrous year of 1672 saw the outbreak of the Dutch War, the city once again faced an economic downturn. Although the economy recovered once more after 1700, the decline would last well into the 19th century. In 1673, Gouda was hit for the fourth and worst time by the plague. The epidemic claimed the lives of 2,995 people, about 20% of the population.

In the 19th century, the city walls of Gouda were demolished; the last city gate was taken down in 1854. During this period, Gouda also dealt with cholera epidemics, the first outbreak being in 1832. Among other things, the establishment of a sewage system and a water supply network managed to reduce the disease by the end of the 19th century.

Gouda has a historic center, with several well-known structures and a system of canals. This canal system was more extensive in the past, but between the 1930s and the 1960s, part of the canals was filled in for economic reasons. Nowadays, there are calls to reopen some of these filled-in canals, but whether this will actually happen is uncertain. In a further past, the city also had fortifications, several city gates, and even a castle, but little of this is still visible today. Nonetheless, Gouda still has a total of 330 national monuments, of which the old town hall and the St. John's Church are probably the most famous. The tower of the Gouwe Church is the highest point in the city at 80 meters.

The Market is the focal point of the historical city center. In the middle of this fan-shaped central square is the old town hall at the Market. The town hall, built of natural stone after the last major city fire between 1448 and 1450, is one of the oldest Gothic town halls in the Netherlands. The town hall is adorned on multiple sides with old statues and reliefs.

To the south of the Market stands the Great or St. John's Church. The building is the longest church in the Netherlands at 123 meters and is especially known for its stained glass windows, also known as the "Gouda Glasses." The Gothic cross church is part of the Top 100 of Dutch UNESCO monuments.

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