  Under the perspective of realizing analog quantum simulations of lattice
gauge theories, ladder geometries offer an intriguing playground, relevant for
ultracold atom experiments. Here, we investigate Hamiltonian lattice gauge
theories defined in two-leg ladders. We consider a model that includes both
gauge boson and Higgs matter degrees of freedom with local $\mathbb{Z}_N$ gauge
symmetries. We study its phase diagram based on both an effective low-energy
field theory and density matrix renormalization group simulations. For $N\ge
5$, an extended gapless Coulomb phase emerges, which is separated by a
Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless phase transition from the surrounding gapped
phase. Besides the traditional confined and Higgs regimes, we also observe a
novel quadrupolar region, originated by the ladder geometry.
