What to do · Edam
Edam cheese market, on summer Wednesdays
Information
- Price
- Free
- Duration
- 2 h
- Season
- Wednesdays in July and August, from 10:30 to 12:30; in 2026, from 1 July to 19 August, with an evening market on Saturday 8 August from 20:30 to 22:00
- Who it's for
- All ages
- With a dog
- On a lead; the square fills up
In summer, Edam's Kaaswaag square goes back to being what it was for centuries: the place where farmers sold their cheeses. They arrive by boat along the canal, are unloaded, weighed on the scales of 1778 and deals are sealed with a clap of hands, as always. It is done by village volunteers in period costume, and the market opens and closes with a bell usually rung by a well-known guest: a minister, a writer, a sportsperson.
When and how to see it
On Wednesdays in July and August, from 10:30 to 12:30. In 2026 there were eight Wednesdays, from 1 July to 19 August, and there was an evening market, with the canals lit up, on Saturday 8 August from 20:30 to 22:00. The 2027 dates are published in spring on the market's website. It is free and in the street.
It is smaller and quieter than Alkmaar's: you can see it well without fighting for the barriers, but arrive a quarter of an hour early to see the boat arrive. From the Edam bus stop it is about ten minutes on foot.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a cheese market in Edam outside summer?
No. Only on Wednesdays in July and August and, some years, one Saturday evening in August.
Which is better, Edam's or Alkmaar's?
Alkmaar's is bigger and runs from March to September; Edam's is more intimate and only in July and August. You can see both in the same week: Alkmaar on Friday, Edam on Wednesday.
With young childrenAs a familyWith a dog
