Plaza Markt.
Plaza Markt.
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
237 reviews
Excellent
97
Very good
117
Average
22
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Noraatc
Sudbury, MA40,767 contributions
Sep 2023 • Solo
The heart of Gouda is beautiful Plaza Markt with its striking Late Gothic building of the Stadhuis Gouda built in 1450 in the center. It is also home to the Waag (The Weighing House) where the tourist office and the cheese shop, Gouda Kaashuis, are located.
The restaurants are very busy and pretty noisy though.
The restaurants are very busy and pretty noisy though.
Written November 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trainbleu
Brussels, Belgium39,800 contributions
Mar 2020
Apart from the gothic town hall and the Cheese Weighing House (‘De Waag’, both reviewed elsewhere) there are no important sights on the central plaza of Gouda, simply called ‘Market’ (‘Markt’ in Dutch). Many old houses have clearly been altered and some have particularly ugly shop fronts. We had a quick look at the 19th century façades of the former Hotel De Zalm (now a restaurant) at N. 34 and at the former courthouse and art school (hence the inscription ‘Arti Legi’) at N. 27.
There is little of interest for architecture buffs here. Yet, the overall impression is rather charming and there are lovely views towards St John’s church.
There is little of interest for architecture buffs here. Yet, the overall impression is rather charming and there are lovely views towards St John’s church.
Written June 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
headbeeguy
Aberdeen, UK1,039 contributions
Jan 2020
I visited at New Year when there was an ice rink in the square as well as a market. It was a very pleasant, happy walk around the beautiful plaza.
It is attractively lit and there are many shops around the square all year round as well as a selection of bars, cafes and restaurants.
You kind of can't visit Gouda without seeing this and it is well worth taking the time to make the best of it. I didn't notice anywhere that was a tourist rap or unnecessarily expensive.
A really good experience.
It is attractively lit and there are many shops around the square all year round as well as a selection of bars, cafes and restaurants.
You kind of can't visit Gouda without seeing this and it is well worth taking the time to make the best of it. I didn't notice anywhere that was a tourist rap or unnecessarily expensive.
A really good experience.
Written April 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sopranocorry C
Melbourne, Australia59 contributions
Jan 2014 • Family
Market was great but trying to get there a nightmare!
Advice:
Do not drive a big car as streets are very narrow and many closed off and one-way!
Parking:
- the first spot we found was for 1 hour parking only
- the second only took 'pinpas' local card not cash or other cards
- parking half over water is dangerous and scary and difficult too.
- we then parked in a legal spot in yet another little street, fed meter with 7 euros then found out that this meter only took coins for the disabled spot (we were not parked in disabled spot)
- frustrated we left city centre to park in a residential street where there was free parking (onder de boompjes it was called) and just walked to the market about 1 km.
We then enjoyed a lovely day at the market.
Advice:
Do not drive a big car as streets are very narrow and many closed off and one-way!
Parking:
- the first spot we found was for 1 hour parking only
- the second only took 'pinpas' local card not cash or other cards
- parking half over water is dangerous and scary and difficult too.
- we then parked in a legal spot in yet another little street, fed meter with 7 euros then found out that this meter only took coins for the disabled spot (we were not parked in disabled spot)
- frustrated we left city centre to park in a residential street where there was free parking (onder de boompjes it was called) and just walked to the market about 1 km.
We then enjoyed a lovely day at the market.
Written January 5, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trippingongas
Gouda, The Netherlands996 contributions
Sep 2017 • Couples
The Markt is a very pleasant way to while away a few hours. If the weather is okay. A lot of good places to get a beer or a coffee and people watch. I particularly like the place where the staff are people with learning disabilities. It's a Dutch thing to get these fellow citizens involved. Hard not to sound patronizing about it. I don't mean to be. It is great all around.
Stadhuis is THE definition of Gothic architecture. Look out for the hang man's stuff, I believe Gouda was the place of the last public execution in NL? In contrast to what someone else posted, all the clocks are a few minutes early. Two minutes to be precise. Apparently this is deliberate. It has certainly been the case for the last twenty years.
Beautiful stain glass windows in the St Jan Kerk. At the risk of sounding like the Gouda tourist board (which I am not, I just live here) it is a great place from which to explore NL. By bike or public transport. By train Amsterdam (50 min) the Hague (20) Utrecht (20) Rotterdam (15) Leiden (30).
And the local cheese is really really good. Give the nettle Gouda a try. Not the crap you get in your local store.
Gouda is well worth a visit and it is pronounce Ghow Dah. Not Goo dah. This review is not based on a visit. I live here right in the centre of town and have done for twenty odd years.
Stadhuis is THE definition of Gothic architecture. Look out for the hang man's stuff, I believe Gouda was the place of the last public execution in NL? In contrast to what someone else posted, all the clocks are a few minutes early. Two minutes to be precise. Apparently this is deliberate. It has certainly been the case for the last twenty years.
Beautiful stain glass windows in the St Jan Kerk. At the risk of sounding like the Gouda tourist board (which I am not, I just live here) it is a great place from which to explore NL. By bike or public transport. By train Amsterdam (50 min) the Hague (20) Utrecht (20) Rotterdam (15) Leiden (30).
And the local cheese is really really good. Give the nettle Gouda a try. Not the crap you get in your local store.
Gouda is well worth a visit and it is pronounce Ghow Dah. Not Goo dah. This review is not based on a visit. I live here right in the centre of town and have done for twenty odd years.
Written September 5, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leo v
Gouda, The Netherlands465 contributions
Nov 2019
Gouda Plaza with its very old city hall is a pleasure tot walk around. The medieval environment around the city hall and Saint John's church is impressive. On the square you will find many ver nice restaurants and bars. On the plaza itself are often attractive events and in the winter a ice-skating track around the city hall.
Written November 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rebecca S
Clevedon, UK94 contributions
Sep 2018 • Couples
This is a lovely area of town from which many smaller streets radiate. It's nice for a quiet stroll in the evening, and some of the shops are interesting, but we also visited the flea market on Thursday which was fun. It was the last one of the season and the weather was a bit wet so I think that some stallholders might not have turned up but there was enough to keep us amused for a couple of hours. The Netherlands aren't probably the cheapest destination for these type of events but we got a few bargains and some nice items to bring home. By September we were too late for the cheese weighing but this was probably more to our taste. Take the time to really explore Gouda, it's bigger than it looks and the canal streets are delightful
Written September 17, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Winecountrygill
Greenville25 contributions
Apr 2014 • Friends
The actual market is very much just for the locals with things like bike accessories, hosiery and fabric/wool, but I was lucky to be there for the cheese market which made for some great photos. The area the market is held is very historic and beautiful and the town itself is very walkable! Love Gouda!
Written April 17, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jo F
29 contributions
Jul 2019 • Couples
A lovely place to visit with a true feel of Holland. The sights are spectacular and there are some great shops which was a bonus!
Written July 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
danae ts.
Athens, Greece1,983 contributions
Nov 2018 • Friends
We visited Gouda in a Saturday morning. We were lucky as it was sunny and there was also the local market. It was very interesting with many products to buy. We also enjoyed a great coffee on the square. Do not miss it
Written November 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We'll arrive on a cruise Sept 11, 2018. Looking at the ship's offering Gouda sounded interesting. Is it good in Sept - someone else said no.
Can you suggest other places from Rotterdam?
Thanks
Marvin
Written July 14, 2018
I believe Thursday and Saturday is farmer's market days and Sunday hosted a comic book affair. We were not there in the first half of the week,so don't know first hand.Maybe they have a local website with information?
Written July 27, 2017
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