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GOUDA

A Dutch product .Loved Worldwide

Gouda cheese, originating from the Netherlands, is a product that has captured the hearts of cheese enthusiasts worldwide. Named after the city of Gouda in South Holland, this semi-hard cheese has a rich history that dates back to the Middle Ages.

Gouda cheese is crafted from cow’s milk and is renowned for its distinct flavor and smooth, creamy texture. The cheese undergoes a traditional cheese-making process, where curds are formed, pressed, and aged for varying periods, giving it a wide range of flavors, from mild and buttery to sharp and nutty.

One of the most enticing qualities of Gouda is its versatility. It can be enjoyed in various ways – sliced in sandwiches, grated over pasta, melted on burgers, or even paired with fruits and wines on a cheese platter. Its delightful combination of flavors complements both sweet and savory dishes.

The aging process significantly influences Gouda’s taste. Young Gouda, aged for a few weeks, boasts a mild and creamy flavor, while aged Gouda, matured for several months or even years, develops a more complex and robust taste with delightful caramel and butterscotch undertones.

Beyond its delectable taste, Gouda is also a nutritional powerhouse. It is a great source of calcium, protein, and essential vitamins, making it a healthy choice for cheese enthusiasts.

Gouda’s popularity has transcended national boundaries, and today, it graces the tables of cheese connoisseurs and food enthusiasts worldwide. So, whether you’re enjoying a casual snack or planning an elegant dinner, Gouda cheese is sure to add a touch of Dutch delight to your culinary experiences.

GOUDA WEATHER
View of Gouda in 1664 from the river Gouwe from which Gouda takes its name Gouda originated in the eleventh century at the mouth of the Gouwe in the Hollandse IJssel. The settlement quickly became of great significance. The mouth of the Gouwe was expanded into a port. The city mainly benefited from the busy inland shipping between Flanders and Holland. In 1272 Gouda received city rights from Count Floris the fifth of Holland. In the Middle Ages, Gouda developed into an important trade and industrial centre. In the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, the city was ravaged by large city fires

plague epidemics

During the plague epidemics, the city council took numerous measures to prevent the spread of the disease. Infected houses were closed, bed straw and garbage had to be burned outside the city and plague sufferers were forced to carry a white pointing stick so that they did not have to touch any-thing with their hands. The first casualties were among the poor, but as the epidemic intensified, so did the wealthier citi-zens. However, the city was resilient and recovered quickly. Gouda had a short flowering period from 1665 to the Disaster Year 1672, in which the population increased to about 15 thousand people. The following year, the latter followed a plague epidemic in which almost a fifth of the population died. The economic downturn lasted a quarter of a century. Even the popular pipe industry was affected by this.

The market square with its imposing Gothic town hall is crowd puller number one.

The weigh house in Gouda (also called the kaaswaag) is located on the Markt, opposite the back of the town hall. The weigh house was built to a design by Pieter Post in 1668, after Gouda  had been able to lease  the right of the  Waag from the Dutch Court of Auditors for fifteen years in 1667,
Since 1995 the “Gouda Cheese Museum” has been located in the weigh house.
The Tourist Office will find a branch here.
It should be reassuring to know that witches have never been weighed here.
The witch persecution was on its way back around 1610 and this weigh house was built in 1668.
Witch trials weren’t so popular anymore.

walk along a maze of canals

Gouda is a real water city and has beautiful canals that give the city view a fairytale appearance. Nevertheless, many Gouda canals have been filled in in the past. These were in fact open sewers and because of these sides life in Gouda became very unhealthy. There were constantly nasty diseases, such as dysentery (severe form of diarrhea), cholera and typhoid fever. In 1673, more than 3,000 people died of the plague. Since the construction of sewerage, the diseases have been reduced. Now a walk through the labirynt of the canals is a real feast.

 

oldest gothic town hall

The coat of arms probably has its origin in the coat of arms of the Van der Goude family. Some members of this family were bailiffs of the city in the 14th century. Jan van de Goude (1375-1411) had a crossbar of silver in his throat, ccompanied by three stars of gold at the bottom and above. The city coat of arms is a mirrored version of the family coat of arms.[ The saying "Per aspera ad astra" does not occur before 1691 and does not become standard until after 1750. The proverb, translated 'through the thorns to the stars' attributed to Gerard Traudenius, headmaster of the Latin school in 1617
The town hall of Gouda is located on the Markt. The fifteenth-century town hall is one of the oldest Gothic town halls in the Netherlands. In 1395, the city council of Gouda bought the market field from Messrs Van der Goude to build a town hall there. Nevertheless, it would take until 1448 before construction began. For the foundation was not driven, but a few rafts of heavy oak beams were used. In 1459, after the completion of the turret, the construction of the town hall was completed, although it had already been put into use in 1450. In the period 1692-1697, the current scaffold was also built at the rear of the town hall. Until 1897, the scaffold could be climbed by means of a wooden staircase on the outside of the town hall. Prisoners were not allowed to walk inside the town hall.
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