Gouda

   This city on the river Gouwe received its statute as an au tonomous community from the Count of Holland in 1272. During the Middle Ages and the period of the Republic, the city was an im port center of commerce and industry (e.g., brewing and drapery). It was one of the voting towns in the States of Holland. Gouda, with a population of about 72,000 inhabitants now, has several industries such as cheese, pottery, textiles, and electronics. The city houses a fine collection of Dutch paintings from the 16th, 17th, and 19th cen turies in the municipal museum, the Catharina Gasthuis, and has a beautifully preserved town hall in late Gothic style. Famous are the 64 stained-glass windows from the late 16th century by the brothers Crabeth in the Great or St. John’s Church. The name of the city is known worldwide because of the Gouda cheese.