Self-Guided Walking Tour of Gouda: Canals, Colonies, and Cheese

5.0 (3 reviews) 1 h 15 min – 1 h 30 min Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

3 reviews

5.0

Self-Guided Walking Tour of Gouda: Canals, Colonies, and Cheese — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Self-Guided Walking Tour of Gouda: Canals, Colonies, and Cheese, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Experience the magic of GPS playback on this immersive stroll through Gouda. On this self-guided audio tour, you'll bridge the gap between entrepreneurs, cheesemakers and traders that shaped Gouda. If you can only name five cities in the Netherlands, Gouda is bound to be one of them. This is no doubt the result of that delicious cheese packed tightly in its yellow wax jacket, now available across the globe. This tour starts at the historic Goudse Waag. You’ll be treated to so much more than cheese during your journey. As you explore the heart of the old city, walking past picturesque canals and houses that belong in 17th-century paintings, you’ll hear how Gouda has been both one of the wealthiest and the poorest of Dutch cities over the centuries. There are plenty of places to stop to pull up a chair, order a coffee, and watch the world walk or cycle past. By the end of this walk around Gouda, you’ll have a sense of the city’s complex past and what makes it unique.

Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Audio Guides Cultural Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours New Product Short term availability

At a glance

Duration: 1 h 15 min – 1 h 30 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Audio guide: English
Written guide: English
Operated by: VoiceMap Audio Tours

Ages: Adults (6–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Get unlimited, lifetime use of this tour, before your booking date and after it
Included: The virtual playback option, so you can listen to this tour like an audiobook from anywhere
Included: Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Included: Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
Included: Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start
Included: Guide: Audio: English Written: English

Not included

Not included: Please bring your own smartphone and headphones

Itinerary

Stop 1

Passing by

Start your tour at De Goudse Waag, a historic goods weighing house on the market square.
Stop 2

Passing by

Visit the Cheese Farmers Co-op (Kaaswinkel Gouda) to learn about the famous Gouda cheese, its production, and its global significance.
Stop 3

Passing by

Marvel at the beautiful Stadhuis van Gouda, the city hall built in the middle of a field to prevent it from catching fire, and an iconic example of Gothic architecture.
Stop 4

Passing by

Pass Saint-John Church, known for its stunning stained glass windows and its remarkable history.
Museum Gouda

Passing by

Discover the charming Museum Gouda with its beautiful courtyard, offering insights into the city's art, history, and culture.
Stop 6

Passing by

Walk along the Turfmarkt, a long canal that was once the central marketplace for peat, reflecting the city's historical trade significance.
Stop 7

Passing by

Hear the poignant stories of Gouda’s Jewish families during the Holocaust, marked by 'stumbling stones' on the pavements of Lage Gouwe.
Slijterij en Speciaal Bierwinkel Den Gouwen Aar

Passing by

Stop at this liquor store to learn about Gouda's rich brewing history, where the city once hosted over 200 breweries and numerous monasteries.
Stop 9

Passing by

Stroll down Peperstraat (Pepper Street) and discover its origins tied to Gouda's spice trade during the city's prosperous trading years.
Stop 10

Passing by

Take a quintessential Dutch photo of ‘t Slot windmill, a picturesque spot especially beautiful with tulips in springtime.
Stop 11

Passing by

Walk through the Vissteeg and see the Visbank, historical sites tied to Gouda’s fish trade, offering a glimpse into the city’s commercial past.
Stop 12

Passing by

Relax in Park Houtmansplantsoen, a green oasis that hides the city's dark colonial and slavery past.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

The tour starts at De Goudsche Waag. If you are travelling by public transport, please check the Travel Planner on the NS website. The nearest major rail station is Gouda Centraal, which can be easily reached from anywhere in the Netherlands.

End point

The tour ends at Relais & Châteaux Weeshuis Gouda.

Using your ticket

VOICEMAP CODE

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Please check your email at the address you provided when you made this booking. You've been sent an eight character code you'll need to redeem your tour.

This code can be used by every member of your party. If you've booked for three people, for example, three people can download this tour using the same code.

DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS

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1. Once you've received your code, please follow these steps:

2. Install the VoiceMap Audio Tours mobile app

3. Create an account

4. Select Tour Codes from the menu, then select Enter Codes

5. Enter your code then select Download Now

PLEASE NOTE

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You can download the tour at any time, before or after your booking date. It’s best to download the tour before you set off for the starting point.

This tour follows a set route and includes turn-by-turn directions. It works best if you start it in the right place and follow the directions from one location to the next.

When the download completes, you’ll see a screen with a photo of the starting point and directions to it. The red start button will become active when you are at the starting point.

Remember to bring your own headphones, unless you have booked a driving tour.

SUPPORT

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For technical support and other queries, please email [email protected]