Photogallery of Gouda, Netherlands

Gouda is a city in the west of the Netherlands. Many people around the world know the city’s name because of a popular variety of cheese. However, we simply cannot fail to notice that this cheese has no relation to the Dutch city. The cheese is an invention of farmers from the same region; they simply used the same name. Gouda is a relatively small city that attracts numerous guests with its beautiful historical buildings and old churches. Do you want to spend your vacation in a serene and peaceful town? Then Gouda is a perfect choice because this city doesn’t have a loud and vibrant lifestyle. Yet during ancient times, this region was a wild marshland. The Van der Goude family decided to build a castle here in the Middle Ages. This was a protective facility on the Gouwe River. The family name derived from the river’s name. Soon, new houses appeared around the castle. New inhabitants did all they could to make their new home more comfortable. A canal was made in Gouda in the 20s of the 13th century. This helped the settlement to become a safe and peaceful place. Gouda officially became a town in 1272. Local people had to endure many troubles. In the mid-14th century and at the beginning of the 15th century, two large fires took place in Gouda. They almost completely destroyed the city. In the 70s of the 16th century, rebels, who were fighting against the king, occupied the city. Naturally, all these events had a negative impact on the city and its … Read further