What to do · Alkmaar
Alkmaar cheese market on the Waagplein
Information
- Price
- Free
- Duration
- 3 h
- Season
- Fridays from late March to late September, from 10:00 to 13:00; in July and August, also Tuesdays from 19:00 to 21:00
- Who it's for
- All ages
- With a dog
- On a lead; the square fills with people
Every Friday in season, the Waagplein fills with cheeses laid out in rows, and at 10:00 the ritual begins: the buyers taste and negotiate the price, and the carriers of the guild, which has existed since 1593, load eight 13-kilo cheeses onto each barrow and run them to be weighed at the Waag. Afterwards, the loaders throw them from hand to hand to the lorries. The cheese girls and boys explain to visitors what is going on.
When and how to see it
In 2026 it was held every Friday from 27 March to 25 September, from 10:00 to 13:00, and in July and August also on Tuesday evenings, from 19:00 to 21:00. The 2027 dates are published when the season starts. It is free. Arrive before 10:00 to get a spot at the barriers. The square is largely wheelchair accessible, with public toilets nearby, but there are few seats.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a cheese market in winter?
No. Only from late March to late September.
Can you buy cheese?
Around the square there are stalls selling cheese to take away.
With young childrenAs a familyWith teenagersWith a dog
