Hotel Barge Panache : New Gouda Cheese Farm Excursion

Photo: Pexels – Tanathip Rattanatum

A barge cruise through Holland is a wonderful way to discover places that most travelers never experience. Beginning in spring 2027, the Hotel Barge Panache will add a new excursion to its Dutch itinerary (coming soon).

Guests can enjoy one of the most unique culinary visits in the Netherlands — private Gouda cheese tasting at the remarkable Hoeve Waterrijk farm near Oude Wetering. This special tour occurs during Panache’s cruise in the Netherlands from Haarlem through the beautiful Lisse polders, adding an authentic and deeply local flavor to the journey.

A Unique Visit to an Island-Based Cheese Farm

This Gouda cheese tasting at Hoeve Waterrijk is at a dairy farm on a private island in the Kagerplassen lakes of South Holland. Visitors can only access the farm by boat, as cars and tour buses cannot reach it, making it a rare experience. The family welcomes only a select few visitors per week, purely for the pleasure of sharing their traditions and craftsmanship.

After Panache moors at the farm’s small private pontoon, guests step directly into the heart of the Dutch countryside. Surrounded by winding waterways, open skies, and peaceful pastureland, the island’s farm setting invites visitors in with its untouched and authentic charm. The dairy farm welcomes only a select few visitors per week, purely for the pleasure of sharing its traditions and craftsmanship.

Discover Traditional Gouda Cheese Making

Only a small number of producers in the Netherlands still create this style of artisanal Gouda. Hoeve Waterrijk is one of the last farms in the Netherlands still producing authentic Boeren Goudse Oplegkaas, a rare style of aged farmer’s Gouda made using traditional methods. Run by the Van der Poel family, third-generation cheesemakers, the farm has won multiple Dutch Champion awards for its cheeses. Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe serve these quality cheeses.

Marije guides you through the farm while explaining the history and craftsmanship behind traditional Gouda cheese making in Holland. Guests can meet the cows and calves, explore the working farm, and learn how the cheeses are produced using raw milk from the farm’s own herd.

Slow Food Traditions

Since 2003, the farm has worked alongside the non-profit Slow Food organization to help preserve Boeren Goudse Oplegkaas, a traditional Dutch cheese considered part of the Netherlands’ culinary heritage. Slow Food supports rare, traditional methods, which makes the artisanal work done by Hoeve Waterrijk especially meaningful.

What Makes This Artisanal Gouda So Special

Boeren Goudse Oplegkaas is aged for up to 24 months, developing a rich, complex flavor with notes of caramel, toasted nuts and subtle fruity sweetness. As the cheese matures, tiny flavor crystals form naturally, giving it a satisfying texture beloved by cheese connoisseurs. 

The character of the cheese comes directly from the farm’s environment. The cows graze freely on wild grasses, herbs, and flowers growing naturally in the Dutch polders. This creates seasonal variation and exceptional depth of flavor to the cheese.

Why This a Memorable Experience

Following the tour, guests enjoy a private tasting overlooking the peaceful countryside and the South Holland waterways.

It is an unforgettable experience with exceptional cheese, beautiful scenery and the connecting with a family who preserves an important part of Dutch heritage. 

---

About Dutch Hotel Barge Panache

The 128-foot Barge Panache with a crew of six, is a 12-passenger luxury hotel barge of classic Dutch design.

Panache is traditionally furnished in an old ship style with brass and mahogany, creating a comfortable and charming ambience. The barge is fully air conditioned with spacious public areas and six ensuite guest cabins, with your choice of twin or double bed configuration. The ensuite bathrooms have twin sinks and oversize showers with massage jets.

The salon and dining room have large panoramic windows for viewing the passing countryside, as well as comfortable sofas, books and music, plus an always-open inclusive bar. The sundeck is spacious and has a heated spa pool; a perfect place to watch the sun set after dinner.

Hotel barges that offer Dutch Cruises

HOME >REGIONS >Holland: Panache’s New Gouda Cheese Farm Excursion