The battle for the tastiest cheese in the Netherlands will erupt once again in 2025. The highly coveted Gouda Cheese Awards will be presented in two categories: Aged Gouda 48+ and Young Gouda. Registration is now open. Participating cheeses must be delivered on Monday, April 14, 2025, between 10:30 AM and 1:00 PM at Essensor in Wageningen.

Only three finalists per category will advance to the grand finale in Gouda, held during the traditional cheese market on Thursday, May 15, 2025.

The Gouda Cheese Awards is one of the Netherlands’ most significant and unique cheese competitions. It is not a technical assessment but a neutral taste test — judged by consumers. The thrilling finale is open to the public and takes place in the most fitting location imaginable: Gouda. The backdrop is the historic Gouda Cheese Market, where farmers and traders still negotiate prices using the traditional ‘handjeklap’ handshake.

In front of a live audience, a VIP jury will assess the final cheeses. The members of the jury will remain a surprise until the big day.

Winners will receive a gold, silver or bronze award and may proudly call their cheese ‘the tastiest in the Netherlands’ within their category for an entire year.