Why am I feeling so happy? Because it’s going to be a Gouda day…I’m on a day trip from The Hague to the city of Gouda in The Netherlands. Gouda is a charming city known for its historic cheese market, beautiful canals, and medieval architecture. Famous for its Gouda cheese, the city also features attractions like the stunning City Hall in the Town Square and the Gouda Museum. Its picturesque town square hosts vibrant markets and local events. Sadly I am not here during one of the cheese market days, but that doesn’t stop me indulging in Gouda cheese! Anyway…what does cheese say to itself in the mirror? Looking Gouda!… Sorry this post is going to be a bit cheesy…

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First mentioned in 1184, Gouda cheese is one of the oldest cheeses still made with the original recipe. Named after Gouda, South Holland, where it was traded, not produced, it develops caramel sweetness and crunchy crystals as it ages. In the Netherlands, Gouda cubes are enjoyed with mustard, and older varieties are sometimes topped with sugar or apple butter.

The city of Gouda is a sight to behold, featuring a beautiful town square with a magnificent Gothic town hall. Built between 1448 and 1450, Gouda’s city hall is one of the oldest Gothic city halls in the Netherlands, serving as a notable landmark and testament to the city’s rich architectural heritage.

When lunchtime rolls around, I head to one of the restaurants around the square. Restaurant Belvedere offers the usual suspects like burgers and croquettes, but I decide to go for something traditional: a Dutch pannenkoeken (pancake) with ham and cheese. This pannenkoeken is thicker than a French crepe but thinner than an American pancake. Unfortunately, it’s not the best, and when I find a hair in the melted cheese, I lose my appetite. I point out the hair to the waiter, but he just smiles and says “thank you” —a lost in translation moment…

After wandering around the shops, it was time for more cheese—obviously Gouda cheese—so I headed into Kaas Bar. I settled on a glass of Villa Sandi Pinot Grigio to complement and wash down the cheese board I was about to enjoy.

The cheeseboard looks amazing, but I do wonder how I am going to get through it all! There are five cheeses alongside bread sticks, walnuts, cornichons and grapes with a little bit of greenery of extra measure. The cheeses come with two dipping sauces and apple flavoured one and a lemon flavoured one. The sauces are quite thin and I’m only a fan of the apple sauce. From left to right, the cheeses are:

-Gouda
-Fenugreek
-Gatenkaas – or ‘cheese with holes’
-Farmers Pesto
-Chorizo

The Gouda cheese has a rich, creamy flavour with a mild, slightly sweet and nutty taste. As its aged, the flavour becomes more complex and pronounced, developing caramel and butterscotch notes with a firmer texture.

Fenugreek cheese has a unique flavour profile characterised by a slightly nutty, sweet, and slightly bitter taste. The fenugreek seeds add a warm, earthy note to the cheese, enhancing its complexity and giving it a distinctive aromatic quality that’s both savoury and mildly spicy.

The Farmers Pesto was simply my favourite! Expecting a green pesto cheese, I was pleasantly surprised by the vibrant red pesto. It’s packed with rich, robust flavour, making it a delightful and unexpected treat.

The chorizo cheese combines the creamy, mild taste of cheese with the spicy, smoky, and savoury flavours of chorizo sausage. The result is a bold, rich flavour profile with hints of paprika, garlic, and chilli, offering a delightful mix of heat and zest. I am quite fond of this one as well!

Each of the flavours of these Gouda cheeses spoke to me… in fact, when shouldn’t you believe a word your cheese is saying? When it’s too Gouda to be true! Sorry that was quite cheesy… 🙂

What a wonderful city! And… what wonderful CHEESE!

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