Alkmaar Cheese Market (Kaasmarkt)
Every Friday morning from April to September, the Waagplein square erupts into a spectacle that has barely changed since 1365: white-clad porters sprint across the cobbles carrying wooden sledges stacked with golden Gouda wheels, while guild-uniformed cheese carriers haggle, clap hands and weigh rounds on antique scales. It is gloriously, unashamedly Dutch, and it is completely real.
How the market works
The market runs from 10 am to 1 pm on Fridays between the first Friday of April and the last Friday of September. Buyers and sellers still perform the traditional hand-clap to seal a deal, a ritual that dates back to the medieval guild system.
Cheese carriers belong to one of four guilds, each identified by a different coloured hat — red, blue, green or yellow. They race their sledges across the square in a choreography that looks improvised but is meticulously practised.
Arrive before 9:30 am to watch the porters set up the enormous rounds and to snag a front-row spot on the Waag building steps before the crowds thicken.
Beyond the spectacle
The 16th-century Waag (weighhouse) at the heart of the square now houses the Kaasmuseum, where you can trace the full history of Dutch cheese-making and sample regional varieties you won't easily find in Amsterdam supermarkets.
After the market, the surrounding streets fill with stalls selling aged Gouda, Edam and herb-crusted varieties direct from Noord-Holland farms — prices are noticeably lower than in tourist-heavy Amsterdam cheese shops.
Getting the most from your visit
Alkmaar is just 40 minutes by direct train from Amsterdam Centraal, making this an easy and deeply rewarding day trip.
Pair the market visit with a canal-side walk along the Bierkade, where café terraces open early and the reflections of gabled warehouses make for effortless photography.
Alkmaar Cheese Market (Kaasmarkt) on video
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