Gouda, South Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe

Achter de Kerk
⎯⎯⎯
“Behind the Church”

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 21, 2025

1. Achter de Kerk / “Behind the Church” Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Ooit was Achter de Kerk een straat met huizen aan weerskanten. De tegen de kerk gebouwde huisjes verdwenen bij de kerkrestauratie van 1917. De grote middeleeuwse panden aan de andere kant van het water waren toen al verdwenen. Dit laatgotische pand is hiervan een van de weinige restanten. De kelder onder het pand werd lange tijd gebruikt als ijskelder. Met natuurijs dat 's winters werd 'geoogst' in de grachten en rivieren, werden 's zomers levensmiddelen gekoeld. Het sluisje voor het pand speelde een rol bij het schuren (schoonspoelen) van de grachten.

Achter de Kerk (“Behind the Church”) was once a street lined with houses. The houses built against the church disappeared during the 1917 church restoration. The large medieval buildings on the other side of the water had already disappeared by then. This Late Gothic building is one of the few remaining examples. The cellar beneath the building was used for a long time as an icehouse. Natural ice harvested from the canals and rivers in the winter was used to cool food in the summer. The lock in front of the building played a role in scouring (cleaning)

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the canals.

Erected by the ANWB. (Marker Number 2162/03.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Buildings • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1917.

Location. 52° 0.631′ N, 4° 42.653′ E. Marker is in Gouda, Zuid-Holland (South Holland). It is on Achter de Kerk, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Achter de Kerk 10, Gouda, Zuid-Holland 2801 JX, Netherlands. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Europe,

the European Union,

Atlantic Europe,

the Benelux Low Countries,

the Schengen Area,

Western Europe,

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire

and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Sint-Janskerk (within shouting distance of this marker); Rotterdamsche Bank (1921) (within shouting distance of this marker); Selma Maass-Strauss (within shouting distance of this marker); Erasmus: Sint Jan (within shouting distance of this marker); Donkere sluis / Donkere Lock

Achter de Kerk / “Behind the Church” Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 21, 2025

2. Achter de Kerk / “Behind the Church” Marker - wide view

(within shouting distance of this marker); Magazijn De Zon / “The Sun Warehouse” (within shouting distance of this marker); Salomon Benjamin Gompers (within shouting distance of this marker); Elisabeth Gompers - van Tijn (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gouda.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 89 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 28, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.

Achter de Kerk⎯⎯⎯“Behind the Church”

Achter de Kerk
⎯⎯⎯
“Behind the Church”