Visit Alkmaar for the first time and you will never forget it. You will always be drawn back to this gem of a town located only 30 minutes from Amsterdam and 15 minutes from the North Sea Beach. Strolling past the listed buildings, canals, shops, museums and terraces, you’ll be amazed at the beauty of the old town centre. Alkmaar is obviously famous as a cheese town: for centuries the world-famous cheese market has been held here on Friday mornings from April to September. A real North Holland tradition that brings a great deal of activity and cheerfulness. Visitors from across the globe come here to view the spectacle. The colourful hats of the cheese bearers, the hand clap of the cheese traders and the vibrant surrounding market make a visit to the Alkmaar cheese market the perfect day out.