9 x typical Gorcum products, great as gifts or for yourself
Real Gorcumse Salt Bollen
The specialty of Gorinchem are the 'Echte Gorcumsche Zoute Bollen' of J.J. de Kroes. Baker Jacob bought his employer's bakery in the Gasthuisstraat in 1849 for around 2,125 guilders. There, he baked the very first savoury biscuits, which became Gorinchem's local speciality. To advertise his delicacy, he had an advertisement painted on the premises in 1937. The mural on the side wall of Gasthuisstraat 36, where the biscuits were made and sold by Jacob de Kroes for many years, is still there. The biscuits are no longer baked there, but you can still buy the traditional treat in the golden tin at the VVV and supermarkets in town.
Gorcum on a bonbon
They are not only very tasty, but also typically Gorcums; the chocolates of Olala Chocola. Franchisee Kees-Jan Hooglander chose 9 photogenic landmarks to put on the chocolates. Their place in the gift box is not accidental; they have been carefully arranged by composition and colour, so that it almost becomes a little painting. Ideal for a corporate gift, as a souvenir or just your own 'guilty pleasure'. As the chocolates are very popular with tourists and locals alike, they are also on sale at the Tourist Office.
Stadsbrouwerij Dukes
Gorinchem was a real beer town for centuries: at one time, there were no less than 23 different breweries. In 1933, the last brewery disappeared from the city. Enthusiasts Han Berendsen and Robert Links picked up the tradition again with Stadsbrouwerij Dukes. In the tasting room at Wiardi Beckmanplein, you can already see the kettles outside. Here you can taste six standard Gorcum beers, on tap and in bottle. With delicious snacks.
Tasting is also possible on location. The striking VW T(2)apbus with four taps can regularly be found at festivals, such as the annual Boat Show. Or at company get-togethers, parties and celebrations. The Gorcum catering industry has also discovered the beer; for instance, it is standard on the menu of La Caponnière, but also on the shelves of various liquor stores and supermarkets in the region.
Vestinggebak
Gorinchem now also has its own Vestinggebak! Typically Gorcums and only available locally, the shape of the pastry is raw, which suits the fortress. The taste is sweet with a fresh touch of lemon. After all, the best limoncello comes from Gorinchem! The chocolate on top finishes it off with the shape of a fortress.
Bliekendrop
Gorinchem is also called the Bliekenstad, especially during Carnival. In the Middle Ages, people not only caught a lot of salmon in the river, but also a freshwater fish; the bliek. That is why the people of Gorcum got their nickname 'Blieken'. At the tourist office, you can still buy the small fish, but as salty liquorice in a tin. Always nice to give away!
Gorcums dice
Do you like a game? Then take Gorcums dice home as a souvenir. It is similar to Yahtzee, but with Gorcum icons such as the Grote Toren, the fortress, Dalempoort, Molen de Hoop, the bliek and the Blauwe Toren as well as a Hendrick Hamel + Hugo de Groot card for a strategic twist. A fun dice game for young and old! It is available at a number of shops in Gorinchem.
Gorcum Charms
Charms like Trollbeads and Pandora are wildly popular. It inspired juwelier Angelo to create the Gorkum Charms. A series of charms from his own workshop of Gorcum landmarks that fit existing systems. Fun to save! You can already choose from the Dalem Gate, the Merwede Bridge, the Blauwe Toren, the Fortress, the chest with Hugo de Groot and the Hamel House. The charms even have their own Facebook page.
Bliekenstadkaas, Ogenbliekje and the Hendrick Hamel bolleke
The delicacies from Kaatje Jans Bliekenstad are to be savoured. The salads, grilled sausages and pâtés come from their own kitchen and are brand fresh. The 'Gorcumse' cheeses are not to be sneezed at either. Do you like spicy old cheese? Then try the Bliekenstad cheese from North Holland. Or the Hendrick Hamel bolleke for a milder taste. Delicious with a drink! Speaking of drinks; to warm you up in the cold months, Kaatje Jans has Ogenbliekje: a herbal bitters in a brown earthenware bottle. Of course, the salty buns are not missing from the range either. If you want a echt Gorcum gift package, drop in at Kaatje Jans!
Fortezza for the most beautiful fortified town
In 2021, Gorinchem was chosen as the most beautiful fortified town in the Netherlands and as part of the Hollandse Waterlinies became a Unesco World Heritage Site. It inspired Mathijn of liquor store 't Kleine Uiltje to add Fortezza (Italian for fortress) to his range. The organic mix of lemon and orange liqueur is made by Sardinia Products, a Gorcum-based company with Italian roots. Their LimonTino (lemon liqueur) and AranTino (orange liqueur) - with a nod to owner Robertino - are made according to traditional family recipe. In fact, the LimonTino is among the best in the world and recently won silver at the wine & spirits competition (IWSC 2021) in London. So with a bottle of Fortezza, you take home a high-quality Gorcum souvenir.
Gorcums bakkie
Entrepreneurs Hazel and Murat have been serving the Gorcums Bakkie, echt Gorcum coffee in three varieties, since 2018: VESTING, WATERPOORT and HAARWIJK. For them, Gorcums Bakkie stands not only for drinking coffee, but also for contact and conversation. In their neighbourhood shop in the Haarwijk district, they try to contribute to a fun, cheerful environment. Because business is not just about making money, but also about people, customers and local residents. You can order Gorcums Bakkie online, but a visit to these local entrepreneurs is of course more fun.
