You probably have eaten Gouda cheese, but did you know Gouda is an actual town in the Netherlands?

Gouda’s history is typically Dutch, or rather, typical for Holland. First, let me explain the difference (for good) between Holland and the Netherlands and why there is so much confusion. Holland is the western part of the Netherlands containing the major cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague.

Throughout most of Dutch history, Holland was the political, economic, and cultural centre of the area which we now call the Netherlands. Many Dutch ships and sailors were from Holland and anywhere they went in the world they would say they are ‘Hollands’, from Holland. This is how Holland became synonymous for the Netherlands. Things that are seen as typically and traditionally Dutch (windmills, flat grasslands, land reclamation, cities with canals, cheese etc.) are mostly from the area we call Holland.

So, what makes the history of Gouda typically Dutch (Hollands)? Gouda was founded in an area that was filled with marshes, swamps and tiny rivers. By digging canals and using other methods (windmills), land was reclaimed suitable for farming and building houses. Gouda was strategically located where two bigger rivers met and by digging more canals it became the perfect trading hub. One of the most traded commodities was cheese. Gouda was surrounded by flat grasslands ideal for dairy farming. Cheese was made to preserve the milk that would otherwise spoil.  

Gouda flourished in the Middle Ages and 16th and 17th centuries and was an important economic centre in the Dutch Golden Age. Most of the beautiful old architecture stems from this time. Many Dutch trading ships who sailed all over the globe would take Gouda cheese with them as you can store it for a long time. This is how Gouda (cheese) became world famous.

In conclusion, Gouda is a typical Dutch town in Holland (the Western part of the Netherlands) because of the flat grasslands, land reclamation, canals, 17th century architecture and a lot of cheese. 

Originally posted on Instagram on July 30, 2023