About the cheese market
Thousands of visitors from all over the world come specially to Alkmaar for the cheese market. It is therefore a special spectacle with a square full of cheese and lugging cheese carriers. In 1365 Alkmaar had weighing rights and one scale, but in 1612 there were already four. When the first real cheese market took place is shrouded in mystery. Old documents have been found on which it is clear that in 1622 the cheese market took place with certainty, but there is also evidence that in 1593 the cheese carriers' guild was founded; from this we can conclude that there must have been a cheese market even then.
A Cheese Market looks like this:
- Cheese carriers carry the cheeses on and off on berries. The berries hold as much as 8 cheeses of 13 kilo each!
- In the Weighing House, the cheeses are weighed.
- Traders negotiate the price of the cheese.
- Ingrowers throw the cheeses onto wagons so they can be transported further.
- Cheese girls and boys inform visitors about the ins and outs of the city of Alkmaar
Start Cheese Market:
Each cheese market starts at 10:00 am with the ringing of the bell. After that, trading begins. The market lasts until 13:00h.
History
Visit the Cheesemarket
The course of a cheese market
Every year, you can witness the cheese market from the last Friday in March to the last Friday in September, every Friday from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm on the Waagplein.
First Cheese Market
The cheesemarket Alkmaar will take place from the last Friday of March until the last Friday in september, every friday from 10 am untill 13.00 pm.
Tuesday evening cheese markets
The Tuesday evening cheese market takes place from 7pm to 9pm during the months of July and August.
How do I reach the cheesemarket?
The Cheese Market is in the town centre on the Waagplein. You can use the PRIS to find directions to the parking garages/areas.
The cheesemarket for kids
The children's cheese market is in July and August and lasts from 10:30 am to 11:00 am.
Cheese Market for groups
Groups can experience the cheese market from the best spot available
Location and directions
Location:
The Cheese Market takes place in the city center on Waagplein. Check out the map of Alkmaar.
By car
For directions to the parking garages you can use the PRIS (parking route information system) on the signs.
Parking in general
We discourage you from entering the center by car on Friday morning. Parking is best done in one of the parking garages or lots around the center, such as the P+R lots Bergermeer and Oudorp from where you can take the bus to the center. View the overview of parking lots, parking garages and their rates here.
By public transport
The cheese market is easy to reach by public transportation. Alkmaar has a train station a 5-minute walk from the Waagplein. From Amsterdam it is only 35 minutes by train to Alkmaar. From the surrounding villages you can also take the bus to Alkmaar.
