Alkmaar is a popular travel destination in the province of North Holland, north of Amsterdam. It’s best known for its famous cheese market and its charming historical city center. Whether you’re planning a day trip or a weekend getaway, there are plenty of things to do in Alkmaar. In this article, we’ll share the best things to do in Alkmaar, along with our travel tips. The list is perfect for anyone visiting Alkmaar for one day or on a weekend getaway.
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1. Alkmaar Cheese Market
The reason most people visit Alkmaar is the famous cheese market! Alkmaar is the oldest cheese city in the Netherlands and is known far beyond the country’s borders. Since 1939, it’s the only city in the Netherlands where cheese trading is still done in the traditional way. So if you want to experience a traditional cheese market, Alkmaar is the place to be!!
In the morning, large wheels of cheese are gathered on the large square in front of the Weigh House. At 10 am, the bell rings to mark the official start of the market. While it’s a truly interesting show for visitors, it’s also a real trading event. Upon opening, the day’s price per kilo is announced. The cheese is carried on wooden stretchers to the Weigh House for weighing, then brought back across the square to the buyers’ wagons. Visitors can also taste and buy cheese. The large wheels weigh between 11 and 13 kilos. But don’t worry, as a visitor, you don’t have to buy that much cheese. Smaller units are available for visitors, usually sold as “cheese bags” with a selection of various cheeses. Cheese stalls are also set up in the streets around the market.
The cheese market is held from the last Friday in March until the last Friday in September, every Friday from 10 am to 1 pm at Waagplein (Weigh Square), in front of the iconic Weigh House. In July and August, there’s an additional evening market on Tuesdays, from 7 pm to 9 pm.
Kitty’s Tip
The market officially starts at 10 am on Fridays, but it takes about 15 to 20 minutes before things really get going (expect some announcements first). Most visitors don’t stay for the full three hours, so even if you arrive a little later than 10 am, you should still find a good spot to watch.
2. Weigh House (De Waag)
The most iconic building in Alkmaar is the Weigh House (De Waag). It’s an ancient chapel dating back to the 14th century with a fascinating history. Originally, it served two purposes: one part was used as a hospital, while the other offered free lodging to poor travelers.
In 1566, the building was repurposed for weighing. Although the weighing activities moved to a different location only about 20 years later, the building has kept the name De Waag (Dutch for “scale”) ever since.
Over the centuries, the Weigh House was expanded and repurposed several times. A Latin proverb was engraved on the outer wall in the late 16th century and can still be seen today, above the three windows on the second floor.
In front of the Weigh House is the Waagplein (Weigh House Square), where the famous cheese market takes place.
Kitty’s Tip
If you’re visiting on a cheese market day, make sure to see De Waag both during the market and again a couple of hours before or after (on a Friday afternoon or Tuesday morning, for example). Outside of cheese market hours, the square is worth exploring too, and there are a few cafés where you can sit with a coffee and enjoy the view.
3. Historic City Center
Over the years, Alkmaar has lost none of its historical charm. Idyllic canals, colorful houses and narrow streets characterize the city center. Alkmaar is far from the noise, skyscrapers and crowds of the big cities that you’d experience in Amsterdam or Rotterdam. For us, it’s the historic city center as a whole that makes Alkmaar so beautiful.
While the center isn’t as large as nearby Haarlem or Amsterdam, it’s also a great place for shopping. You’ll find most major chains along Langestraat and De Laat, the main shopping streets in the center. For smaller boutiques, vintage shops and independent stores, head to the smaller alleys such as Fnidsen, Hekelstraat or Mient. These are some of the most charming streets in the city and well worth exploring at a slower pace.
Kitty’s Tip
Alkmaar is a wonderful combination of lively markets, busy shopping streets and historic landmarks. Even if you don’t want to do shopping, be sure to walk down Langestraat, Alkmaar’s main shopping street, all the way from or to Sint-Laurenskerk. You’ll walk by the city hall (stadhuis), which is another eyecatcher in Alkmaar.
4. Canals and Canal Cruises
Canals (known as grachten in Dutch) are an important eyecatcher in the historic city center of Alkmaar. You can find them all over the city, in all sizes and shapes, each adding to the city’s character.
Our favorite is the Singelgracht, located along the Kennemersingel. It’s surrounded by green areas with tree-lined walking paths and is a wonderful place for a stroll, especially in summer. If you go for a stroll here, don’t forget to head over to Molen de Piet (also known as “De Groot”), located at the southern end of the park. This large stone tower windmill is a beautiful eyecatcher and marks the cityscape of Alkmaar.
One of the best ways to explore Alkmaar is by canal cruise. Large, low open boats depart from the city center opposite the Weigh House and take you all around Alkmaar. The boats are kept low to pass under the city’s many bridges, giving you a unique perspective on the historic buildings and waterways. If you’re out with family or friends, renting a boat and exploring at your own pace is another great option.
Kitty’s Tip
If you want to explore the canals, be sure to walk around the city and stroll along the streets and through the many small alleys. Every canal has its own unique charme, from Oudegracht to Singelgracht.
5. Cheese Museum
Alkmaar is home to several museums, ranging from local history to quirky specialty collections. There’s something here for most interests, even if you only have a day to spare.
The Cheese Museum is housed inside the iconic Weigh House (De Waag) and is the most visited museum in Alkmaar. It’s a natural combination with a visit to the Friday cheese market, which takes place just outside on the Waagplein. The museum offers a genuinely interesting look at a tradition that has shaped Alkmaar’s identity for centuries.
Inside, you’ll discover the history of Dutch cheese, how it’s made and how the different flavors develop over time. A large part of the collection is dedicated to the two most famous Dutch cheeses: Edam and Gouda. You’ll learn what sets them apart, how they’re produced and why they became so iconic both in the Netherlands and beyond.
Given its location inside De Waag, visiting the museum also gives you a chance to see the building from the inside, which is worth it in its own right.
Kitty’s Tip
Alkmaar also has the Stedelijk Museum, which focuses on local art and history. It’s a good option if you’re spending several days in the area or if you live nearby. However, if you’re only in Alkmaar for a day, it may be hard to fit in alongside everything else.
6. Great Church (Sint-Laurenskerk)
The Sint-Laurenskerk, also known as the Grote Kerk, is one of the most impressive buildings in Alkmaar’s city center. This large Gothic church dates back to the 15th century and is beautiful both inside and out.
Inside, the church is particularly striking. The painted ceiling is elaborately decorated and well worth looking up at. The church also houses a magnificent organ, which has been a central feature of the building for centuries and is still used for concerts today. The colorful stained glass windows add to the atmosphere, filling the interior with light on sunny days.
Beyond its architectural highlights, the Sint-Laurenskerk also has a small cafe inside, making it a pleasant place to take a break during a day of sightseeing in Alkmaar.
On Saturdays, there’s also a weekly market in the city center, near Sint-Laurenskerk. The weekly market is a typical Dutch market where you can find everything from cheese and fresh flowers to nuts, fruit and vegetables. During cheese market hours, several market stalls selling cheese and other local products pop up near De Waag.
7. City Hall (Stadhuis)
Alkmaar’s City Hall (Stadhuis) is one of the most striking buildings you’ll come across during a stroll through the city center. It’s located right on Langestraat, the main shopping street, so you’ll almost certainly walk past it during your visit. The building is hard to miss, thanks to its impressive facade and the distinctive lion statues that guard the entrance.
What makes the Stadhuis particularly interesting is that it’s still in active use as Alkmaar’s municipal government building. That means it’s not just a heritage site preserved for tourists, but a living part of the city’s day-to-day life. The contrast between its historic exterior and its continued function as a working city hall gives it a character that many other Dutch city halls have lost over time.
You don’t need to go inside to appreciate it. Simply stopping to take in the facade from the street is well worth a moment of your time, and it makes for a great photo, especially when the square in front is quiet.
Share Your Feedback & Questions
Have you ever been to Alkmaar or are you planning to visit soon? Share your experience and questions in the comments section down the page. We’d love to hear from you!
