Museum Gouda

The basics

Museum Gouda is a complete resource for everything that created Gouda as it is today. Since the 16th Century, artists and artisans have crafted works such as stained glass and fine pottery, and Museum Gouda celebrates the works produced here. Find out about the local Haagse (Hague) School of Art and the style of paintings this inspired, and discover where else in Gouda houses pieces by prominent local artists such as stained glass maker Dirk Crabeth.

Things to know before you go

• The Museum Gouda has a well-stocked café with a pretty courtyard and public-access toilets

• It’s suitable for all ages, with a small children’s museum inside

• The museum is accessible by wheelchair and has audio tour options

How to get there

Museum Gouda is right in the center of Gouda itself, adjacent to St. John’s Church (Sint-Janskirk.) The nearest bus stop is Gouda, Doelenbrug across the Fluwelensingel canal—just cross the Doelenbrug bridge and head towards Oosthaven.

When to get there

The museum is open every day of the week except Mondays. Opening time is at mid-morning when you’ll find it moderately quiet, and closing time is mid-afternoon. To beat the crowds, head to Museum Gouda on a weekday during the late afternoon.

Explore Gouda’s history by bike

Known as the “green heart of the Netherlands,” Gouda is a beautiful place to explore outside of the city limits. While Amsterdam might be world-famous for its cyclists, Gouda is just as well-suited to bike traffic, and renting a bicycle or E-Bike here is easy. Visit local parks and places of interest, pedal your way into the countryside of the Cheese Valley, see windmills, and find historic waterways, factories, mills, and villages. Park your bike safely almost anywhere, and enjoy the freedom of traveling without a car.