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The Netherlands🇳🇱 | citiesAlkmaarFriday cheese market, Waagplein, beer museum, canal ring | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Alkmaar
👍 Recommendedcity ranked #12
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 16, 2026

Alkmaar is famous for its Friday cheese market on the Waagplein, and the overlooked bonus is that the town works as a calm, cheap-ish base with fast trains to Amsterdam and the North Sea coast. It sits in North Holland, about 40 kilometers north of Amsterdam, and feels smaller and quieter than Haarlem or Leiden. Expect canals and early closing hours, not hostel nightlife. I once arrived at the market at 10:30 a.m., assuming it ran all day, and found the carriers already packing up their sledges. The ceremony runs roughly 10:00 to 12:00, April to early September, so arrive by 9:45.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #12 city in The NetherlandsThe unique appeal for travelers

Alkmaar earns its place as a low-stress stop between Amsterdam and the northern islands, not as a nightlife hub. The compact center takes about 15 minutes to cross on foot, so you can drop your bag and see most of it in an afternoon. The Friday cheese market is the anchor, and timing your stay around it makes the visit feel purposeful. Trains reach Amsterdam Centraal in about 35 to 40 minutes, and the Den Helder line runs north toward the Wadden ferry connections. Accommodation is thin on dorm beds, so expect small guesthouses or a short ride from Amsterdam. If you want late bars and big hostels, skip it. If you like a slow evening along the canals, stay one night.

💡 HighlightsEssential experiences to have while visiting Alkmaar

  1. Kaasmarkt (Cheese Market): Porters in white uniforms and colored straw hats carry wooden sledges loaded with Gouda and Edam across the Waagplein, while an auctioneer explains the ritual of hand-clapping bargaining. It runs Fridays from 10:00 to 12:00 from early April to mid September, and it is free. Arrive by 9:30 for a front spot; about 1 hour is plenty.
  2. Nederlands Kaasmuseum: Inside the old Waag (weigh house), this museum explains how cheese was weighed, taxed and traded. Entry is roughly €6 to 8, and 45 minutes to 1 hour is enough. Go on a non-market day for quiet rooms.
  3. Biermuseum De Boom: A small brewery museum in a 16th-century building, with old copper kettles and a tasting included in the ticket of roughly €7 to 9. Allow about 1 hour, and visit in the afternoon.
  4. Grote or Sint-Laurenskerk:
… read more 👉
  1. Kaasmarkt (Cheese Market): Porters in white uniforms and colored straw hats carry wooden sledges loaded with Gouda and Edam across the Waagplein, while an auctioneer explains the ritual of hand-clapping bargaining. It runs Fridays from 10:00 to 12:00 from early April to mid September, and it is free. Arrive by 9:30 for a front spot; about 1 hour is plenty.
  2. Nederlands Kaasmuseum: Inside the old Waag (weigh house), this museum explains how cheese was weighed, taxed and traded. Entry is roughly €6 to 8, and 45 minutes to 1 hour is enough. Go on a non-market day for quiet rooms.
  3. Biermuseum De Boom: A small brewery museum in a 16th-century building, with old copper kettles and a tasting included in the ticket of roughly €7 to 9. Allow about 1 hour, and visit in the afternoon.
  4. Grote or Sint-Laurenskerk: This late-Gothic church holds the 1511 Van Hagerbeer organ, and the vaulted nave is striking. Entry is often free or a few euros, though hours vary and concerts cost extra. Plan 30 to 45 minutes, ideally midday.
  5. Canal ring walk: Circle the Singelgracht moat and the Mient and Verdronkenoord canals past gabled merchant houses and the tiny Accijnstoren. It is free and takes 1.5 to 2 hours. Early morning light is best.
  6. Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar: Local paintings, the Siege of Alkmaar story from 1573 and rotating exhibitions fill a modest building. Tickets run about €10 to 12, and you need 1 to 1.5 hours. It suits rainy afternoons.
  7. Canal boat tour: A small boat glides under low bridges and shows the city from water level. Tours cost roughly €9 to 12 and last about 45 minutes to 1 hour. They run mostly April to October, best on a dry afternoon.
The Kaasmarkt and the canal ring walk pair well in one day, with the market in the morning and a slow loop through the old center afterward. Day trips from Alkmaar can include the beaches of Bergen aan Zee and Egmond aan Zee, the dune landscape near Bergen, and the windmills of Zaanse Schans.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do in Alkmaar

Small Group Alkmaar Cheese Market and City Tour *English*

Small Group Alkmaar Cheese Market and City Tour *English*

5.0(49) 2h 30m
From €28
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Small Group Alkmaar City Walking Tour *English*

Small Group Alkmaar City Walking Tour *English*

5.0(27) 2h
From €18
per personViator
e-Scavenger hunt Alkmaar: Explore the city at your own pace

e-Scavenger hunt Alkmaar: Explore the city at your own pace

4.1(30) 3h
From €31
per personViator
Discover Alkmaar with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour

Discover Alkmaar with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour

4.7(17)
From €28
per personViator
Alkmaar: City Walk with Audio Guide in 7 Languages on your Phone

Alkmaar: City Walk with Audio Guide in 7 Languages on your Phone

4.9(7)
From €7.99
per personViator
City Sup Tour in Alkmaar (2 hours )

City Sup Tour in Alkmaar (2 hours )

5.0(1) 2h
From €35
per personViator
Alkmaar Food and Walking Tour What the Dutch Really Eat

Alkmaar Food and Walking Tour What the Dutch Really Eat

5.0(1)
From €72
per personViator
Private Guided Walking Tour in Alkmaar

Private Guided Walking Tour in Alkmaar

5.0(1) 2h 30m
From €285
per personViator
90 minutes self guided walking tour with puzzles in Alkmaar

90 minutes self guided walking tour with puzzles in Alkmaar

4.0(1) 1h 30m
From €19.50
per personViator
Escape The City: Alkmaar City Walking Tour with Puzzles

Escape The City: Alkmaar City Walking Tour with Puzzles

0.0(0)
From €30
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🏘️ NeighborhoodsWhere things are and how it's laid out

Alkmaar is compact, and almost everything of interest sits inside a ring of canals, so the patterns are easy to read once you know the layout.
  • Old Center (Binnenstad): The core of cobbled lanes, gabled houses and canals, with the Waagplein weighing house at its heart. The Friday morning cheese market (April to early September) draws the crowds here, and cafés fill the squares by evening. It is fully walkable, and you spend nothing on transport, so it gives a backpacker the most for the least.
  • Mient and Langestraat: The main shopping streets, running through the center. Good for bakeries, snack bars and the Saturday market, with quiet streets after 18:00.
  • Stationsbuurt: The area around the train station is functional rather than pretty, but it has supermarkets and cheap takeaways. Walking to the
… read more 👉
Alkmaar is compact, and almost everything of interest sits inside a ring of canals, so the patterns are easy to read once you know the layout.
  • Old Center (Binnenstad): The core of cobbled lanes, gabled houses and canals, with the Waagplein weighing house at its heart. The Friday morning cheese market (April to early September) draws the crowds here, and cafés fill the squares by evening. It is fully walkable, and you spend nothing on transport, so it gives a backpacker the most for the least.
  • Mient and Langestraat: The main shopping streets, running through the center. Good for bakeries, snack bars and the Saturday market, with quiet streets after 18:00.
  • Stationsbuurt: The area around the train station is functional rather than pretty, but it has supermarkets and cheap takeaways. Walking to the center takes 10 minutes.
  • Bergerhout and the Oudorp side: Residential districts with local bakeries and low prices. Reaching them costs time with little to see, so a short visit is enough.
  • Hoornsevaart and Molen van Piet: The canal edge near the windmill is peaceful for an evening stroll, 15 minutes on foot from the market square.

⌛️ 1 dayWhat you can realistically do in a day

Alkmaar suits a slow day built around the canal ring and its famous market square.
9:30 AM: Waagplein. Claim a spot at the barrier before the 10:00 start, since later arrivals see only backs. Watch the carriers and the hand-clap bargaining until noon, then stroll two minutes to the next stop.
12:15 PM: Dutch Cheese Museum. Spend 45 minutes learning how the trade worked, then buy a sample wedge for lunch.
1:30 PM: Canal walk along the Verdronkenoord. Follow the water south, past gabled houses, to the Laurenskerk, about 15 minutes at an easy pace.
3:00 PM: Grote Kerk. Look inside for the 16th-century organ and high vaulting, then continue to the museum quarter.
4:15 PM: Stedelijk Museum. Take an hour for the siege story and regional art.
5:45 PM: Molen van Piet. This working 1769 windmill on the Singel … read more 👉
Alkmaar suits a slow day built around the canal ring and its famous market square.
9:30 AM: Waagplein. Claim a spot at the barrier before the 10:00 start, since later arrivals see only backs. Watch the carriers and the hand-clap bargaining until noon, then stroll two minutes to the next stop.
12:15 PM: Dutch Cheese Museum. Spend 45 minutes learning how the trade worked, then buy a sample wedge for lunch.
1:30 PM: Canal walk along the Verdronkenoord. Follow the water south, past gabled houses, to the Laurenskerk, about 15 minutes at an easy pace.
3:00 PM: Grote Kerk. Look inside for the 16th-century organ and high vaulting, then continue to the museum quarter.
4:15 PM: Stedelijk Museum. Take an hour for the siege story and regional art.
5:45 PM: Molen van Piet. This working 1769 windmill on the Singel is off the standard route. Walk past it to see the sails and the quiet houses beyond.
7:00 PM: Dinner on Langestraat. Finish with pancakes or a local beer, then walk ten minutes back to the station.

🌤️ When to go?Weather, crowds, and seasonal trade-offs

The best time for backpacking in Alkmaar is late April to September, when the cheese market runs on Friday mornings.
  • Spring (April to May): 8 to 17°C (46 to 63°F), long days, tulips nearby and the market begins. Crowds are moderate.
  • Summer (June to August): 17 to 23°C (63 to 73°F), up to 16 hours of daylight, busiest and priciest, with occasional showers.
  • Autumn (September to October): 10 to 18°C (50 to 64°F), fewer visitors, and the market ends in early September.
  • Winter (November to March): 1 to 7°C (34 to 45°F), about 8 hours of daylight, damp wind, cheapest beds, and Christmas lights.
Arrive by 10:00 for the market, since the crowds thicken fast after that.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: good for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: highly recommended for travelingAUGAugust: highly recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: good for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
netherlands-city-alkmaar
© Google | Michiel De Bruijcker

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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas and accommodation options

The best area for a budget stay in Alkmaar is the Stationsbuurt and the southern edge of the old center, within 10 minutes of the train station. Budget beds are limited in a town this size, with only a few hostel-style options, so book ahead in summer and on Fridays, when market visitors fill rooms. Prices drop noticeably in winter.

The station area gives you the best transport links, with trains to Amsterdam and buses to the coast at the door, plus supermarkets for cheap self-catering. It is quiet at night, well lit and busy with commuters, so walking back after dark feels comfortable. Noise … read more 👉
The best area for a budget stay in Alkmaar is the Stationsbuurt and the southern edge of the old center, within 10 minutes of the train station. Budget beds are limited in a town this size, with only a few hostel-style options, so book ahead in summer and on Fridays, when market visitors fill rooms. Prices drop noticeably in winter.

The station area gives you the best transport links, with trains to Amsterdam and buses to the coast at the door, plus supermarkets for cheap self-catering. It is quiet at night, well lit and busy with commuters, so walking back after dark feels comfortable. Noise is mainly passing trains.

The old center is the second choice. Rooms are pricier and some sit above bar-lined squares, so weekend evenings can be noisy until late. If dorm prices are too high, sleeping in Amsterdam or Haarlem and commuting by train is a realistic alternative.
Best hostels in Alkmaar


Best quality hotels in The Netherlands

🚌 Getting aroundMoving around without the hassle

A single bus ride in Alkmaar costs roughly €1 to 3 and you pay by tapping a bank card or a rechargeable OV-chipkaart; cash is not accepted on board. The center is small enough that most backpackers walk everywhere, with traffic mostly slow and bikes taking priority. Public transport is reliable and frequent, and the pattern is simple: trains link the city to other towns, buses fill local gaps.
  • Walking: Free and fastest inside the canal ring, where cars are restricted. The station to the market square takes about 10 to 15 minutes, so nothing else saves you more.
  • Rental bike: Around €10 to 15 a day. Cycle paths run everywhere, including toward the dunes and the coast, and it costs far less than a taxi for longer distances. Lock it well, as theft is common.
  • City and regional bus: Roughly €1 to 3
… read more 👉
A single bus ride in Alkmaar costs roughly €1 to 3 and you pay by tapping a bank card or a rechargeable OV-chipkaart; cash is not accepted on board. The center is small enough that most backpackers walk everywhere, with traffic mostly slow and bikes taking priority. Public transport is reliable and frequent, and the pattern is simple: trains link the city to other towns, buses fill local gaps.
  • Walking: Free and fastest inside the canal ring, where cars are restricted. The station to the market square takes about 10 to 15 minutes, so nothing else saves you more.
  • Rental bike: Around €10 to 15 a day. Cycle paths run everywhere, including toward the dunes and the coast, and it costs far less than a taxi for longer distances. Lock it well, as theft is common.
  • City and regional bus: Roughly €1 to 3 per hop, with services from about 06:00 until around midnight. Useful for the beach at Bergen aan Zee or Egmond, but pointless inside the center.
  • Train: Alkmaar station has frequent trains to Amsterdam (about 35 to 45 minutes, €9 to 12) and Haarlem. Trains run until after midnight on main lines, and the OV-chipkaart or contactless card saves a ticket-machine queue.
  • Taxi: Rare and expensive, with a short ride costing €10 to 20. Only worth it with heavy luggage late at night.

👛 Costs (as of 16 October 2026)What things cost and how to budget

Alkmaar costs roughly €60 to 100 a day for a backpacker, a bit less than Amsterdam, mainly because beds are scarce.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm (high season)€35 to 60Few dorms locally, so private budget rooms or nearby cities may apply
Dorm (off-season)€25 to 40Cheaper and easier to find
Meals€15 to 30Supermarket and snack bar food, one cafe meal
Local transport€0 to 6Mostly walking, occasional bus
City transport pass€8 to 15Day ticket or bike rental
Activities and entries€0 to 15Museums €8 to 15, the market is free
Miscellaneous€5 to 15Beer, snacks, laundry
Total Daily Budget€60 to 100Lower with self-catering
Buy groceries at supermarkets and use a bank card, since many places no longer accept cash.

source: holland.com
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🚌 Day tripsBest day trips from Alkmaar

Alkmaar works well as a day-trip base because trains and buses are frequent and the surrounding area is flat, compact and cycle-friendly.
Bergen aan Zee: A wide North Sea beach reached by bus in about 30 to 40 minutes for €3 to 5 each way. Go from May to September for beach cafés, and check wind before swimming, since the water stays cold.

Zaanse Schans: Working windmills and wooden houses, about 40 minutes by train to Zaandijk-Zaanse Schans plus a 15 minute walk, around €10 to 14 return. The mistake first-timers make is arriving at midday with the tour buses, so go before 10:00.
👉 Explore Zaanse Schans
Haarlem: A lively historic city with the Grote Markt and hofjes, 25 to 30 minutes by train for roughly €8 to 11 return. It suits any season, and you can easily combine it with the dunes.
👉 Explore … read more 👉
Alkmaar works well as a day-trip base because trains and buses are frequent and the surrounding area is flat, compact and cycle-friendly.
Bergen aan Zee: A wide North Sea beach reached by bus in about 30 to 40 minutes for €3 to 5 each way. Go from May to September for beach cafés, and check wind before swimming, since the water stays cold.

Zaanse Schans: Working windmills and wooden houses, about 40 minutes by train to Zaandijk-Zaanse Schans plus a 15 minute walk, around €10 to 14 return. The mistake first-timers make is arriving at midday with the tour buses, so go before 10:00.
👉 Explore Zaanse Schans
Haarlem: A lively historic city with the Grote Markt and hofjes, 25 to 30 minutes by train for roughly €8 to 11 return. It suits any season, and you can easily combine it with the dunes.
👉 Explore Haarlem
Amsterdam: The capital is 35 to 45 minutes by direct train, around €9 to 12 each way. Book museum slots in advance, and avoid peak commuting hours for cheaper, calmer travel.
👉 Explore Amsterdam

🍲 FoodWhat to Eat & Drink

Alkmaar's identity is dairy, so start with Alkmaar cheese, a young or aged Gouda-style wheel sampled from market stalls and cheese shops, with a wedge costing €3 to 6. Grab a hot stroopwafel fresh from a stall, and try haring (raw herring with onions) at a fish kiosk for around €4 to 5, eaten by the tail if you want to do it the Dutch way.

For cheap meals, check the Saturday market, snack bars for fries with mayonnaise and a kroket from a wall vending machine, and the supermarkets for sandwiches. Pancake houses and brown cafés around the squares serve bitterballen with beer for €6 to 9.

Lunch is usually a simple sandwich, with the hot meal at 18:00. Bars are friendly, and a local pils or craft beer costs around €3.50 to 5. Order at the bar, and tipping is rounded up, not required.

🛡️ SafetySafety Tips and Common Scams in Alkmaar

Alkmaar is very safe, and the main problem is bicycle theft. Lock your rental bike through the frame to a fixed object, even for five minutes. Pickpocketing is rare but can happen in the packed Friday market crowds, so keep your phone in a front pocket. Solo travelers, including women, can walk around at night comfortably, though the area around the station is emptier after midnight. Cyclists move fast and quietly, so stay out of the red-painted bike lanes. No common scams target visitors, and the emergency number is 112.
Check Country Safety

FAQTraveler FAQ

One full day is enough for Alkmaar, and a Friday visit from April to early September lets you catch the 10:00 to 12:00 cheese market. Add a second day if you want the beaches at Bergen aan Zee or the dunes, about 20 to 30 minutes by bus. Trains from Amsterdam Centraal take roughly 35 to 40 minutes.
Yes, Alkmaar is very safe for solo backpackers, with low violent crime and well-lit streets even in the evening. The main risks are bicycle theft and pickpockets in the crowd at the Friday market, so lock your bike with two locks and keep your bag zipped. Emergency number is 112, and the center is easy to walk at night.
Alkmaar is known for its traditional cheese market on the Waagplein, held Fridays from 10:00 to 12:00, April to early September. It is also remembered for the 1573 siege, which ended when residents flooded the surrounding land, and for the Dutch Cheese Museum inside the old Waag. The town also has a small Beatles museum and a canal-ringed historic center.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Dutch cities near Alkmaar

Explore more nearby:

  • Haarlem—St. Bavo, Hals paintings, hofjes, Spaarne waterfront| 28 km away
  • Amsterdam—Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank House, Jordaan lanes, seasonal bed prices| 31 km away
  • Leiden—Student canals, Naturalis, antiquities, near Schiphol| 55 km away

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We 💚 feedbackIs it worth it?

What surprised me most was how fast the market empties. By 12:15 the square is back to being a quiet plaza with a few cafés. The town works best slowly: one night, one morning of cheese, and one evening wandering the canals. It will not fill a week, but it rewards anyone who plans for Friday.

✈️ When did I visit The Netherlands?
Netherlands is my home base, so whenever I don’t travel, you can find me in this tiny spot on the globe. When friends from abroad visit me, it’s the time to actually explore my own country as a traveler.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in The Netherlands, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

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