About Gouda

Gouda, Cape Winelands

Gouda is a little village just 37 km south of Porterville, at the western entrance to the Nuwekloof Pass that links Tulbagh to Wellington.

The town does not produce or, in fact, have anything to do with cheese. The only Gouda you will find here, is in the local supermarket.

Yet it does have some connection with Gouda, the town after which it is named, in Holland. The story goes that originally Gouda was a farm, known then as La Bonne Esperance, owned by three sisters who had immigrated from Gouda in Holland. They donated their farm to establish a town, on the proviso that the town was named Gouda.

There are others who believe that the name actually originates from the Khoi word meaning 'antelope' or 'honey kloof'. What we do know is that Gouda was once the railhead (terminus) for Porterville, and another branch line fed from Porterville to Hermon.

Gouda's residents are predominantly farmers and seasonal workers who work on the grape, peach and banana farms in the district.

Gouda will soon find itself back on the map when the forty-six 3 MW Acciona windpower turbines, destined for the Gouda wind park, go up. Not only will they supply 138 MW of power to the grid, but this will be the first windfarm to use concrete towers, as opposed to steel.