Stadhuis Gouda (City Hall), South Holland Province, The Netherlands

4Trainbleu 5:00 PM Jun 8, 2020

Stick to the outside
Arriving at the central plaza (‘Markt’) of Gouda we liked the sight of the gothic town hall with it many turrets and pinnacles. It isn’t all medieval though, there have been many later additions. The double staircase leading to the entrance and the balcony at the rear (a former scaffold!) have been added in the 17th century; the statues representing Burgundian rulers date from the 1950s and the carillon from the 1960s. Together with the red and white shutters it has probably been added for cuteness’ sake. The staircase is decorated with two rather interesting Renaissance atlantes carrying cushions on their head. Today the town hall is only used for wedding ceremonies and as an event location. To visit the interior, dating mainly from the 17th and 18th century, we had to pay an entrance fee of 2.5 euros and were provided with laminated information sheets for a self-guided tour. But you may spare the money, there is nothing of tourist interest: some paintings, statues, reliefs, coats of arms, mantelpieces, mayoral cushions, portraits of former mayors ... The wedding room, which is still in use, is decorated with antique upholstered chairs and a predominantly green 17th-century tapestry we didn’t like much. It offers a good view on the plaza and the cheese weighing house (‘De Waag’). In former times the balcony doors led to the scaffold outside. A strange place to start married life indeed.

4AnnaClearwater 5:00 PM Jun 20, 2013

A really Dutch City Hall
We drove from Kinderdijk along the Lek river and took the ferry for only 2. 45 euro across the river for a short drive to Gouda. A lovely Dutch town with nice shops, St John s Church and the old City Hall . You can visit the Gouda cheese shop which sells the best local cheeses. Walk through the old town with delightful houses on the canals.