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Alkmaar

Culture of Alkmaar. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

The main city attraction has always been the famous Waagplein Square dating back to 1390. It is a permanent venue for holding popular cheese fairs gathering a huge number of international tourists every year. The square is surrounded by beautiful old houses, but its main decoration is the Waag building. Today, the beautiful historic building houses the Dutch Cheese Museum. During the tour, visitors can learn a lot of interesting things about cheesemaking traditions, and taste the best Dutch cheeses at the fair.

Family holidays with kids in Alkmaar. How to entertain your child, things to show to children.

In miniature Alkmaar, there is not much entertainment for children. However, it is still possible to plan an interesting family entertainment program. One of the main symbols of the city is …

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In addition to its excellent cheese, great beer is produced in Alkmaar. One of the city's museums occupying an old brewery is dedicated to the national drink. Next to the museum, there is a bar where guests can sample about 80 different beers. An equally cultural institution is the Stove Museum. In seven halls of the museum, you can see 75 stoves that local residents used for the last hundred years. Also, you have a chance to admire some priceless paintings in the Museum of Arts and visit the Historical Museum, which houses many unique artifacts and ancient documents.

An important religious landmark is the Cathedral of St. Lawrence. Next to it, the main city street begins, on which you can find numerous restaurants and cafes, as well as antique shops. It also accommodates the Town Hall building - a fine example of Gothic architecture. Another remarkable attraction is Huize Egmont, a mansion built in the middle of the 18th century specifically for one of the local burgomasters. The building is striking with its splendor and original architectural shapes. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Cuisine of Alkmaar for gourmet with top restaurants and cafe

National cuisine is characterized by its simplicity, which does not make it less attractive. Marinated herring, potato salads, delicious cheese and beer, an abundance of meat dishes and …

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During boat trips along city canals, travelers can see the old Piet Mill built in 1769, as well as visit a fish market, which has also become an important attraction of Alkmaar. Among other notable places, attention should be paid the city park where you can see the main symbol of the city - "Alkmaria" monument. If you still have free time, you can also explore the Beatles Museum founded by one of the biggest fans and a beautiful flower park.

The Accijnstoren van Alkmaar tower is not to be mistaken with anything else because the building is visible from afar. It is like a beacon that illuminates the way for travelers, announcing that it is necessary to visit this building. The landmark surfaced in 1622. The building has its own unique history; you should definitely listen to what is told about it. Another building with a rich history is called Het Hof van Sonoy van Alkmaar. The first mention of it dates back to the year 1574, when the building played an important role in the fight against the Spaniards. Initially, the house was a monastery until it became the property of the city. During its restoration, the locals tried to keep everything “as it was earlier”.

Authentic traditions, festivals and lifestyle of Alkmaar inhabitants

The city of Alkmaar welcomes guests with a decent choice of destinations and traditional cordiality. Prepare yourself for a variety of pleasant surprises and multifaceted experiences from …

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De Visbanken of Vismarkt, which was built in 1755, is a historical fish market and has several stone galleries. This is a kind of open-air museum where you can buy fish as a bonus. The place is definitely worth a visit, because the Netherlands is famous for fishing. It is therefore one of the options for exploring the local culture. In any case, the place is very colorful, because it displays the life of the local population in all its glory and aspect – after all, it was here that they spent their daily life, and people communicated with each other here.

From an architectural point of view, it is very interesting to visit Het Huis Met De Kogel. This house is still of a historical value, and its unique feature is that it is built of wood and stands near the canal itself. It is also believed that this is the oldest building in the entire Alkmaar, at least, it is clearly number one on top list of wooden buildings. The truth is that at some point, people in the Netherlands were stopped from constructing wooden buildings because of the fear of fire outbreaks. That notwithstanding, this building continued to stand as a reminder of the good old days. A special charm is given by a neighborhood with the traditional architectural structures of the city.

Your active city break in Alkmaar. Attractions, recreation and entertainment - best places to spend your day and night here

The city of Alkmaar will satisfy the desires and tastes of tourists of all the ages. Besides attractions and shopping facilities, you will be able to indulge in an immense world of …

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The city is full of interesting sculptures. For example, it is worth seeing Kussend Kaasmeisje, depicting a kissing “cheese” girl located next to the Het Kaasmuseum in Wagplein. Victoriemonument, dedicated to the victory over the Spaniards, is also worth seeing if you consider going sightseeing in the city. It is located in Victoriepark, where you can sit and forget about all the hustle and bustle of the world. Wildemanshofje is famous for its garden and sculptures. The place has its own special atmosphere, and it is obligatory to visit for this reason. And, the “Mythical Bird”, located right by the canal, is a great addition to the recreation in Alkmaar.

In the section below, you can get one of our excursion, activities or city discovery tours over Alkmaar and surroundings. Our website offers 10-30% lower ticket prices, when compared to the offline purchase on the spot.

City tours, excursions and tickets in Alkmaar and surroundings

This guide to cultural sights Alkmaar is protected by the copyright law. You can re-publish this content with mandatory attribution: direct and active hyperlink to www.orangesmile.com.

Alkmaar - guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Reference information

Map of all palaces

Public palaces near Alkmaar
♥ Palace 'Royal Palace of Amsterdam' , 30.5 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

Culture of Alkmaar. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

City tours, excursions and tickets in Alkmaar and surroundings

Photogallery of cultural heritage of Alkmaar

Landmarks of culture on Alkmaar map: art-galleries, monuments, palaces, etc

Excursions over cultural sights of neighbours of Alkmaar