DAY 63. Rotterdam

Originally we should go to Kristiansand, but the itinerary has been changed, I do not mind, because I have never ever been to Gouda where I wanted to go from Rotterdam.

The ship arrived as planned, and there were many cabs outside, so it was easy to go to Gouda.
Gouda is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. Gouda, which was granted city rights in 1272, is famous for its Gouda cheese, smoking pipes, and 15th-century city hall.
In the Middle Ages, a settlement was founded at the location of the current city by the Van der Goude family, who built a fortified castle alongside the banks of the Gouwe River, from which the family and the city took its name. The area, originally marshland, developed over the course of two centuries. By 1225, a canal was linked to the Gouwe and its estuary was transformed into a harbour. Gouda's array of historic churches and other buildings makes it a very popular day trip destination.
Here all the major point of interest are in the downtown area. It took a pleasent 3 hours walk to visit everything and have some free time as well.
It is highly recommended to go into any of the big cheese shops where you can try more than 30 different cheeses. I'd not miss it :).