Expand your vocabulary with cheese sayings with a Gouda twist

To not have eaten any cheese

Let’s start with a Dutch favorite: “geen kaas van gegeten hebben,” which means “not to have eaten any cheese.” It refers to someone who knows nothing about a topic. The expression dates back to the days when cheese was a luxury not everyone could afford. If you hadn’t eaten cheese, you weren’t one of the experts.

At the Gouda Cheese Experience, you’ll quickly prove the opposite because here you learn everything about milk, ripening, taste, and craftsmanship.

Don’t let them take the cheese off your bread

This saying means you shouldn’t let anyone take advantage of you. In the past, cheese was precious and bread was a staple. Together they formed the heart of a meal. Losing the cheese from your bread meant losing the best part.

In Gouda, we still hold on to that pride, but we fight for flavor instead of fortune. And where better to do that than during a visit full of everything about the Gouda Cheese Experience?

She let the cat near the cheese

An old but wonderfully vivid Dutch saying: “She let the cat near the cheese.” It means that a woman is expecting a baby. The phrase comes from a time when people used playful imagery to talk about private or delicate topics. The “cat” symbolized curiosity and fertility, while “the cheese” represented something precious that needed protecting.

In small villages, it was a light-hearted way to share news without saying it outright. Today, it sounds funny, but it shows just how imaginative the Dutch language can be — cheeky, warm, and full of charm, much like a slice of Gouda cheese itself.

Cutting the cheese too thick

This lesser-known expression paints a vivid picture. In Dutch, “de kaas te dik gesneden hebben” means someone has been a bit too generous, especially with their money. In the past, cutting cheese too thick was a sign of extravagance.

Today, it’s used playfully. Someone who’s spent too much on dinner or a weekend away has “cut their cheese too thick.” But when it comes to taste, we’d say: be generous. A good piece of Gouda deserves it.

Cheesy sayings from around the world

Cheese inspires language across the globe. The French say “entre la poire et le fromage” (between the pear and the cheese) for a relaxed moment after a meal. In English, a “big cheese” is an important person, while Germans say “Alles in Butter” (everything in butter) to mean everything is fine, a nod to the days when butter and cheese were safely shipped in barrels.

And in Italy? “Vendere fumo e comprare formaggio” means “selling smoke and buying cheese,” or in other words: talk is cheap, but cheese is a smart investment.

Language as a taste experience

Just like cheese, language matures over time. Words develop new meanings and layers, and that’s exactly what you’ll experience at the Gouda Cheese Experience, where language, culture, and taste come together.

From virtual cow milking to multi-sensory tastings, learning here is a feast for all your senses. Who said education couldn’t be delicious?

Cheese wisdom at home

Are you inspired? Use these sayings in daily life. Don’t just say something is old; call it “as old as cheese.” And if someone doesn’t know something, joke that they simply haven’t eaten enough cheese yet.

And for even more local flavor, plan a visit to the Syrup Waffle Factory, where sweet and tradition meet in perfect harmony. 

Want to know more?

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the Gouda Cheese Experience or practical details on all visitor information for the Gouda Cheese Experience.

Ready to explore Gouda’s language, taste, and stories yourself? Book your tickets and discover how words and cheese can bring a smile to your face with an unmistakable Gouda twist.