Start: market square

In the middle of Gouda, there is an extraordinary collection of historic commercial vessels. That’s not really so surprising, as the Netherlands' busiest shipping route passed through the city for a long time! Gouda Museum Harbour is keeping Gouda's great history as a port city alive. The ships in the harbour are home to skippers who are continually restoring and maintaining their historic vessels, using traditional methods as much as possible. And that means that the ships can still sail.

Discover the history of the port and listen to the skippers' stories about sailing heritage. Walk from the market square to the Museum Harbour and the adjacent IJsselhuis restaurant – a cosy place full of history and nostalgia where you can relax.

If you are walking with your children, there is a fun puzzle trail in the Museum Harbour, just a 10-minute walk away!