Did you know that Gouda is a real water city, connected for centuries to the waters of the Hollandsche IJssel and the Gouwe?
Soak up the sun at the city beach, sip a Gouda kuitbier on a waterfront terrace, explore the canals by stand-up paddleboard, and discover how the water brought Gouda fame as the most important beer city in the Netherlands.
Waterfront terraces in Gouda
When the sun comes out, you’ll want to head straight to a terrace for lunch or dinner near the water. Bingo! Gouda has some really lovely ones. Take Restaurant Unique in the Kleischuur, with its waterfront terrace and refined lunches. For a chic experience, head to the historic Visbanken in the city center, where the chefs at Restaurant Brunel or Kamphuisen will treat you to culinary delights. And if you’re looking for an urban beach, take the Gein or Korne ferry to Restaurant Gouwestrand near the creative hub GOUDasfalt.
More about food and drink in Gouda
Museumhaven Gouda
Step back into Gouda’s rich maritime history at Museumhaven in Gouda! An open-air museum of sailing heritage, right in the heart of the city, featuring a collection of some twenty tjalken, clippers, tugs, and motorboats. These vessels are lived in, restored, and maintained by the skippers themselves. During the biennial Museum Harbor Days, the harbor comes alive with crafts, music, and activities. Enjoy delicious food and drinks with a harbor view at the former skippers’ lounge, Museum Harbor Café IJsselhuis.
More about the Museum Harbor
Cruising through Gouda’s canals
There’s no shortage of ways to cool off on the water in Gouda. For example, step aboard the traditional Dutch towboat Jan Salie, operated by Reederij de IJsel, and join a canal tour through Gouda. The skippers share fascinating stories, and you’ll learn about the city’s history. Or opt for a historic Gouda canal tour with Bootje Kaas Gouda. Thanks to a handy app, background information is available in no fewer than 11 languages. You can also hit the water yourself in a sporty way. For instance, you can explore the center of Gouda by stand-up paddleboard or canoe with JABA Sup and even glide right under the houses.
Everything about Gouda from the water
Cycling Along Historic Waterways
Take a bike, a cheese town, historic sites, and a polder landscape. And you get: the cycling route along historic waterways that starts in Gouda. Pedal along the Hollandsche IJssel and the Lek to destinations including the fortified town of Nieuwpoort and the silver town of Schoonhoven, right through the polder landscape of the Krimpenerwaard. And along the way, you’ll take in part of the Old Dutch Waterline.
More about cycling in and around Gouda
Beer Spots in Gouda
The most essential ingredient in beer? Water. Thanks to its relatively clean water and location along major waterways, Gouda grew in the 15th century to become the most important beer city in the Netherlands, boasting 200 breweries. You can see traces of that beer history at Bunniks Bierbrouwerij, the Den Gouwen Aar beer shop, and the city’s beer cafés. For example, there are beer cafés like de Goudse Eend, BarBier, and Museumhavencafé ’t IJsselhuis, known for their specialty beers.
The Reeuwijkse Plassen
The Reeuwijkse Plassen are literally just around the corner from Gouda and are the perfect place to get away from it all if you’re staying in the city for a few days. There’s plenty to do on the water: take a leisurely boat or canoe ride along the green shores, go stand-up paddleboarding in the morning sun, or hoist the sails for a trip across the lakes. Swimming, picnicking by the water, and birdwatching from your boat are also part of the experience. Extend that vacation feeling, right near Gouda.
Boat Days in Gouda
Get your boat ready, pack a picnic basket, soak up the sun, and off you go! The Boat Days between Gouda and the Reeuwijkse Plassen are a summer highlight for water sports enthusiasts and recreational boaters. On these special days, the locks are open all day long thanks to the Gouda Lock Keepers’ Guild. They ensure that you can sail back and forth as often as you like. The dates vary each year, but usually fall during the summer months.
Gouda has 200 moorings
You can also visit Gouda with your own boat or ship. Make use of one of the 200 moorings.
More about Gouda as a recreational harbor
