Finalists for the 2025 Gouda Cheese Awards Announced
Follow the competition for the tastiest cheese in the Netherlands
Gouda, May 1, 2025 – Today, the six finalists of the Gouda Cheese Awards 2025 were announced: three young Gouda cheeses and three aged Gouda 48+ cheeses were selected following a public tasting for the grand finale on Thursday, May 15, in the heart of historic Gouda.
The consumer panel had a lot to taste this year. Never before have so many cheeses been submitted: no fewer than 36 in the Gouda Young category and 31 in the Gouda 48+ Aged category. Ultimately, the cheeses listed below were judged to be the tastiest and will advance to the exciting final round, which can be followed live at the Market Square in Gouda.
Finalists Gouda Young
• Klaverkaas Young – Klaverkaas
• Stompetoren Young – Kaashandel Remijn
• Vergeer Young – Vergeer Holland
Finalists Gouda 48+ Old
• Lutjewinkel 1916 Robust & Creamy – Velder
• Vergeer Old – Vergeer Holland
• Hoeve Goud – Zuivelhoeve
The final will take place on Thursday, May 15, 2025, right in front of De Waag and next to the iconic Gouda Cheese Market, starting at 10 a.m. There, an expert jury will taste the six cheeses live on stage, ultimately awarding gold, silver, or bronze in each category. This year’s jury consists of Mayor Pieter Verhoeve, Gouda-based journalist Anne-Marie Visser, and Michelin-starred chef Remco Kuijpers of restaurant LIZZ. During the finals, Remco Kuijpers will also showcase his creative side with a number of surprising cheese dishes.
Free admission event
The Gouda Cheese Awards are a celebration for everyone who loves cheese. Visitors can sample the finalist cheeses, enjoy the atmosphere at the historic cheese market, and of course have their picture taken with the farmers and traders or the cheese girls and boys. The event will be hosted by Dorotheé Beens, the familiar voice of the Gouda Cheese Market and the Gouda Loes Fork.
The winners will be able to promote their cheese for a year as the “tastiest in the Netherlands”—an honorable and delicious title.
