Netherlands beyond Amsterdam: Gouda

Masha’Allah... I have been living in the Netherlands for quite some time and always found it pretty amazing to explore this country from different perspective especially beyond Amsterdam. In my travel journals, I would be taking you all on an amazing journey that will touch small town covered with cobblestone and take you to the era beyond imagination. The best part of exploring these cities is the fact that they all are still the same as they were 300 - 400 years back... In the very first trip story, let’s go ahead and see worlds favourite cheese-making town... GOUDA!!

Gouda is a small Dutch city in the southern part of the Netherlands. Its beauty is beyond the words especially as this city is still the same as it was back in the 1600s. One of the main reason behind visiting this amazing city is my love for cheese (I will hold that story for some other time, about my love for cheese tasting and how it all started). As the name of this city sounds familiar to some of us because of its Namesake Cheese, recognised all over the world. The icing on the cake with the visit to the Gouda is the seasonal cheese market that’s open for only 4 months during the summer. Cheese market at the medieval market square is worth visiting, be mindful that it’s just for 150 minutes once in a week during the season. It's the best time to see the farmers bringing their homemade cheese from raw milk and showcase it, they are pretty friendly and always ready to share a story or two. I had the chance to see those farmers trading their cheese with the Traders (gentleman’s in the yellow suit, quite a scenery to see it).

They also have centralised cheese buying place and on top of it you can also visit cheese museum.. had a good experience with a cheese tasting from a few weeks to 48 months old.

Once you are done with the cheese walk and local farmers market, do plan to spend some time to stroll this beautiful city and grab some awesome Broodje kebab (yes they have a quite a good places to try some halal food, especially Döner kebab, Broodje Kebab etc. with Ayran).

Last but certainly not least.. are you a fan of Stroopwafel, I am definitely one... so here is some background about what it is.. they are miniature waffle with some superb filling in between, I would say it’s liked by people of every age... after all age is just a number!!!! And yes if you guessed it, guessed it right about its origin.. it was first made in the beautiful Dutch city of GOUDA!!

Guys what are you waiting for, pack your bags and do add this small city but worth visiting on your journey to The Netherlands!

Happy travelling comrades.. and do comment and like my travel journals!! I appreciate your time reading my travelogue... Dasvidaniya, till I am back with my another story...