Visit the church of St. John in Gouda and discover all its beauty with the help of an audioguide. Watch the sun shine through the 72 world-famous stained-glass windows and mmediately understand what makes St John’s in Gouda so special.  No other church in the world has so much sixteenth-century stained glass. The Gouda Windows, as they are known, are among the supreme achievements of European glass painting. Gaze in awe at the superb colors and rich interplay of light that contribute to the hushed atmosphere in the longest church in the Netherlands.

Book your entry ticket to the city hall of Gouda and wander through this magnificent building that’s been the jewel of the market square for over 5.5 centuries. Discover the Wedding Hall, the Mayor's Room, the Council Room, and the Civic Hall in the basement. As you explore the rooms in the town hall, from the basement where meat used to be inspected to the attic where until recently the city council met, gain insight about the town and its people. Learn about the various renovations that illustrate how fashion and taste have changed over the centuries. In the Middle Ages, Gouda was already an important center due to its position near the rivers Hollandsche IJssel and Gouwe. As the town grew in importance, it needed a new and impressive town hall. The new town hall cost more than half the town’s annual budget. The town hired Jan Kelderman III, a member of a famous Mechelen-based family of architects. More than a hundred skilled workers from home and abroad worked for two years to create this elegant palace. In 1450, the building was more or less complete. The steps and landing were added 150 years later.