Historic square in Alkmaar where cheeses are carried by porters in traditional dress, and weighed and inspected as in the old days
Historic square in Alkmaar where cheeses are carried by porters in traditional dress, and weighed and inspected as in the old days
Alkmaar Cheese Market is held on the Waagplein in front of the medieval Waaggebouw
37 minutes by train from Amsterdam Centraal
Waagplein
Alkmaar
40 km from Amsterdam
train Station Alkmaar
directions_bike 43.8 km
| Opening hours* | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri | 10:00 | - | 13:00 |
* From April to September
| Entrance fee | |
|---|---|
| free | |
official website
www.visitalkmaar.com
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The characteristic canals, countless monuments and charming cafés, restaurants and shops make Alkmaar a very diverse city. Above all else however, Alkmaar is most famous for its cheese.
Alkmaar is also a fantastic shopping city. Be sure not to miss the small and unique boutiques in the little side streets between the main shopping streets Laat and Langestraat.
The Alkmaar Cheese Market has been a tradition for over 6 centuries*. The spectacle takes place every Friday from April to September on the Waagplein, a square in the centre of Alkmaar. The medieval Waag (weighing house), a historic building, serves as the backdrop for the market.
During the school holidays, a special children's cheese market is held, where children can sample the cheeses for themselves.
The market begins early in the morning, and local farmers and merchants dressed in traditional costumes transport the cheese using hand barrows and wooden sledges. They demonstrate the traditional methods of weighing and trading the cheese, using a system of hand claps to finalize each transaction.
* Alkmaar cheese trading started in 1365.
