Alkmaar is a city which is more than 750 years old, and therefore it has a beautiful center with many historical buildings. If you dare to dive into the network of the historical streets and alleys of the old center you will be amazed. The narrow alleys with secular premises accommodate special, unique and especially nice shops.
Alkmaar is the second biggest city in Noord-Holland. The old city counts 400 monuments. The street pattern has not changed over the last centuries. Along the canals there are merchant houses from the seventeenth century and there are various courtyards. This sociable city is perfect for a nice walk along the many monuments. Along the way you can enjoy nice canals, bridges, joyful terraces, restaurants and a lot of nice shops.
Everyone who wants to go shopping in Alkmaar can find something there. Alkmaar is a shopping city which does not get a lot of publicity, but it is absolutely worth a visit. Did you know that Alkmaar is the second biggest shopping city of the Netherlands? This is because of the huge offer of different kinds of shops in the city. It is a compact center, which makes sure that all the shops are close to each other. The old heart of the city has many historical shopping streets. In the nice streets you will find various famous stores. A few minutes’ walk away from the inner city, you will find a furniture mall and the roofed in shopping mall ‘Noorder Arcade’. You can find many big stores in there with a wide array of toys, electronics, clothing and sportswear. Every Thursday the shops are open until 21.00.
Alkmaar is mostly famous for its cheese market. From April until September, every Friday morning people trade cheese in a traditional way. During the cheese market the cheese carriers’ guild takes care of the transport and the weighing of the cheese. First the Waagplein will be made ready and the cheeses will be put on display in ...
Alkmaar is most famous for its cheese market, but there are more sights which are worth a visit. There is no way you can get bored in Alkmaar. There are churches, mills and various museums:
Het Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar geeft een levendige en overzichtelijke presentatie van de ontwikkeling van de stad en de omgeving. Vijf eeuwen roemruchte geschiedenis, zoals het Alkmaars ...
The Dutch Cheese Museum is housed in the monumental Weigh house, in the centre of Alkmaar, a city famous for its cheese. The preparation of dairy products throughout the centuries, trade and ...
