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.