The Gothic town hall stands in the very centre of the Markt, freestanding on all sides — an unusual and impressive sight. The stepped gables, the pointed turrets, and the pale stone have barely changed since 1450. The building is still in use as the city's administrative centre; the council chamber is open to visitors on certain days. The carillon, installed in the 17th century, can be heard from most of the old centre.
Gouda Town Hall (Stadhuis)
Gothic town hall standing in the middle of the Markt since 1450
A story
The Gouda Stadhuis is one of the oldest freestanding Gothic town halls in the Netherlands — built in 1450, when most cities put their town hall up against a church or wall. The carillon plays every half-hour, and on Thursdays during the cheese market, mechanical figures emerge from the facade at noon to re-enact scenes from Gouda's history. A replica of the facade was built in Japan's Huis ten Bosch theme park in Nagasaki.