The Netherlands 6 - Gouda & Delft, plus treats
As we reached the final stretch of our journey, we explored two cities on Day 6. One was Gouda, the famous Dutch cheese city. First recorded in 1184, Gouda is one of the oldest still-made cheeses in the world. Following the acquisition of exclusive cheese-selling privileges in 1395, the city of Gouda became the central trading hub for the County of Holland. As farmers were obligated to bring their produce to the city's market square, Gouda eventually became synonymous with the cheese itself. Thus, the cheese received its name from the city where it was historically traded, not where it was produced. The cheese originated primarily from the surrounding polder meadows, so-called "Cheese Valley", which connect four municipalities: Gouda, Woerden, Bodegraven-Reeuwijk, and Krimpenerwaard. Gouda cheese had been traded at the city's market square on Thursdays for centuries until the 1950s. Although the modern Gouda cheese trade takes place elsewhere, many volunteers demonst...