GOUDA or TER GOUWE, a town of Holland, in the prov ince of South Holland, on the north side of the Gouwe at its con fluence with the Ysel, and a junction station 124 m. by rail N.E. of Rotterdam. Pop. (1930) 29,163. Tramways connect it with Bodegraven on the old Rhine and with Oudewater on the Ysel; and there is a regular steamboat service along canals in various directions. The Groote Markt is the largest market-square in Holland. Among the numerous churches belonging to various denominations, the first place must be given to the Groote Kerk of St. John. It was founded in 1485, but rebuilt after a fire in 1552, and is remarkable for a celebrated organ, and a series of 40 stained-glass windows. Other buildings are the Gothic town hall, founded in 1449 and rebuilt in 169o, and the weigh-house, built in the I7th century and adorned with a fine relief.
In the time of the counts Gouda was busy with brewing and cloth-weaving; but at a later date the making of clay tobacco pipes became the staple trade, and, although this industry has somewhat declined, the churchwarden pipes of Gouda are well known, while it also manufactures candles. The transit and ship ping trade is considerable, and as one of the principal markets of South Holland, the round, white Gouda cheeses are known throughout Europe. Boskoop, pop. (193o) 7,704, 5 m. N. by W. of Gouda on the Gouwe, is famous for its nursery gardens; and the little town of Oudewater as the birthplace of the famous theologian Arminius in 156o.