Bij Alkmaar begint de victorie - Victory begins in Alkmaar.
While visiting fans may well hope this is the case, the phrase has little to do with football in the city. In 1573 the city successfully withstood a siege of Spanish forces, and the successful defence marked a turning point in the 80 Years War between the two countries. The event is still celebrated to this day, on 8th October.
Alkmaar is known as one of Holland's principle producers of cheese, and so from April through to September you'll see the weekly traditional cheesemarket in the city centre.
As we've come to expect from Dutch cities, there is also a red light district in Alkmaar, called Achterdam. The street, close to the main Waagplein square, is a couple of hundred yards in length with all the associated trappings of the oldest profession in the world.
Main Tourist Sights
Alkmaar was established way back in the 10th century, and was granted city status in 1254. Most of the sights in the city involve the medieval architecture that still survies to this day, along with other historic buildings such as the Stadhuis (town hall), built in 1509.
The main street in the city is Langestraat, which runs from Sint Laurenskerk and ends just south of the Waagplein, or main square. This is dotted with buildings from the 16th to 18th centuries, including the Huize Egmont, built in 1742.
On the Waagplein itself you'll see the weekly cheese market, as well as the Cheese Museum (€2.50 entry). Waag translates as 'weighing house', and the Waag has stood on the square since 1390, and was converted to its main use in 1582. The tourist office is on the ground floor of the Waag.
See the Waag and market below:
Just north of the main square is the Beer Museum, Biermuseum de Boom, housed in a 17th century brewery. It's closed on Mondays, but entrance costs only €3.50, and their bar serves more than 80 different beers. South of the Waagplein is the Vismarkt (Fishmarket).
Other Things to Do
There are also tours on the canals around the city, by open-topped canal boats. They depart hourly on the hour from a jetty on Mient, just opposite the Waag. Trips cost around €5.
Getting Around Generally
The main city centre is not much more than a square mile, and so everything can be covered on foot. There are local buses that serve the suburbs and coast, but if you're staying in the city you'll need little assistance in getting around.
