Guidebook for Alkmaar

Imogen
Guidebook for Alkmaar

Arts & Culture

Yep, seriously, a museum for cheese! What can I say, this country is famous for dairy products :-) It's a cute experience and not too expensive
66 habitants recommandent
Musée du Fromage Hollandais
2 Waagplein
66 habitants recommandent
Yep, seriously, a museum for cheese! What can I say, this country is famous for dairy products :-) It's a cute experience and not too expensive
You can't really miss this, it dominates the entire end of the Long Street (Langestraat).
34 habitants recommandent
Église Grote ou Sint-Laurenskerk
2 Koorstraat
34 habitants recommandent
You can't really miss this, it dominates the entire end of the Long Street (Langestraat).
A fully functioning grain mill that is open to the public on certain days of the year. The lowest part of the mill is a bakery and doubles as a work-training environment for mentally disabled members of our community
't Roode Hert
102 Frieseweg
A fully functioning grain mill that is open to the public on certain days of the year. The lowest part of the mill is a bakery and doubles as a work-training environment for mentally disabled members of our community

Essentials

- In Europe we bag our own groceries - Take re-usable bags with you. Or buy bags at the store for €0.10 each - If you buy beer or soft drink you will pay a recycling deposit on the bottles. There is a machine in the store where you insert the empty bottles. The machine will give you a voucher. You can redeem the voucher on your next grocery purchase or just ask for the cash at any register
Jumbo
486 Winkelwaard
- In Europe we bag our own groceries - Take re-usable bags with you. Or buy bags at the store for €0.10 each - If you buy beer or soft drink you will pay a recycling deposit on the bottles. There is a machine in the store where you insert the empty bottles. The machine will give you a voucher. You can redeem the voucher on your next grocery purchase or just ask for the cash at any register
There are a few supermarkets in this shopping centre (called Winkelcentrum de Mare). You can drive, bike or walk
Lidl
354 Europaboulevard
There are a few supermarkets in this shopping centre (called Winkelcentrum de Mare). You can drive, bike or walk

Food Scene

Outdoor "Beach" Bar on the main canal in Alkmaar. This is a popup bar/cafe that only opens in summer. Great spot for a light snack and a cup of coffee (or a cold beer). They have sand toys for the kids too
26 habitants recommandent
Stadsstrand De Kade
950 Noorderkade
26 habitants recommandent
Outdoor "Beach" Bar on the main canal in Alkmaar. This is a popup bar/cafe that only opens in summer. Great spot for a light snack and a cup of coffee (or a cold beer). They have sand toys for the kids too
Cafe/bar on the top level of a disused building. Nice urban feel, with occasional live music. Great view of the city too - see if you can spot all the major landmarks while you sip your drink
8 habitants recommandent
Stadskantine Alkmaar
5 Marconistraat
8 habitants recommandent
Cafe/bar on the top level of a disused building. Nice urban feel, with occasional live music. Great view of the city too - see if you can spot all the major landmarks while you sip your drink
Go for the potato and cheese soup, stay for the cosy terrace that offers the ideal people-watching spot. (Potato and cheese soup = Aardappel soep met oude kaas)
12 habitants recommandent
De Waag
2 Waagplein
12 habitants recommandent
Go for the potato and cheese soup, stay for the cosy terrace that offers the ideal people-watching spot. (Potato and cheese soup = Aardappel soep met oude kaas)
Great little lunch cafe that primarily exists to make sure our friends in the community with Down's Syndrome are able to develop their working skills. Go support this excellent project with the out-there name! (The food is good too)
7 habitants recommandent
Brownies & Downies Alkmaar
17 Kanaalkade
7 habitants recommandent
Great little lunch cafe that primarily exists to make sure our friends in the community with Down's Syndrome are able to develop their working skills. Go support this excellent project with the out-there name! (The food is good too)

Parks & Nature

Nice to stroll, bike, and play with a frisbee
Rekerhout
7 Krielenzand
Nice to stroll, bike, and play with a frisbee
Less busy that Egmond or Bergen, you can find a quiet cove at this beach
15 habitants recommandent
Camperduin
15 habitants recommandent
Less busy that Egmond or Bergen, you can find a quiet cove at this beach
One of the easiest beaches to get to from our house, Egmond aan Zee is part of the long stretch of coast on the Netherlands' west side. Golden sand and plenty of cafes built into the beach itself
155 habitants recommandent
Egmond aan Zee
6 Zuiderstraat
155 habitants recommandent
One of the easiest beaches to get to from our house, Egmond aan Zee is part of the long stretch of coast on the Netherlands' west side. Golden sand and plenty of cafes built into the beach itself
As well as a long stretch of beach, Bergen aan Zee has a Sea Aquarium on the waterfront. Pricey but worth a look. The surrounding areas are knows for established dunes, used by hikers and joggers. Bergen proper is a lovely town with some great terraced restaurants and bars.
160 habitants recommandent
Bergen Aan Zee
160 habitants recommandent
As well as a long stretch of beach, Bergen aan Zee has a Sea Aquarium on the waterfront. Pricey but worth a look. The surrounding areas are knows for established dunes, used by hikers and joggers. Bergen proper is a lovely town with some great terraced restaurants and bars.

Sightseeing

This is the main square of Alkmaar, where everything begins. Take the small bridge on your left to see the Old Town, grab a bite at a cafe, or stroll along the cobbled streets
56 habitants recommandent
Waagplein
Waagplein
56 habitants recommandent
This is the main square of Alkmaar, where everything begins. Take the small bridge on your left to see the Old Town, grab a bite at a cafe, or stroll along the cobbled streets
"The House With The Cannonball" marks the first shot fired by the Spanish during the Siege of Alkmaar in 1573. The people of Alkmaar were able to fight off the invaders, first with fire (burning tar was poured from the city walls) and then with water when the dikes of Alkmaar were deliberately destroyed, flooding the Spanish army into retreat. Hint: To find the cannonball, look up :-)
8 habitants recommandent
House With Bullet
2 Appelsteeg
8 habitants recommandent
"The House With The Cannonball" marks the first shot fired by the Spanish during the Siege of Alkmaar in 1573. The people of Alkmaar were able to fight off the invaders, first with fire (burning tar was poured from the city walls) and then with water when the dikes of Alkmaar were deliberately destroyed, flooding the Spanish army into retreat. Hint: To find the cannonball, look up :-)
Download this map of Alkmaar to your phone (pdf file): https://www.kaasmarkt.nl/media/1031/plattegrond_alkmaar.pdf
338 habitants recommandent
Alkmaar
338 habitants recommandent
Download this map of Alkmaar to your phone (pdf file): https://www.kaasmarkt.nl/media/1031/plattegrond_alkmaar.pdf

Getting Around

This is the train station where the buses also depart. You will see more details about bus numbers, departure platforms and fares in the custom Google map included in the House Manual
7 habitants recommandent
Alkmaar, Station Noord
7 habitants recommandent
This is the train station where the buses also depart. You will see more details about bus numbers, departure platforms and fares in the custom Google map included in the House Manual
The best-value bike hire is at Alkmaar Centraal Train Station. Bike rentals begin at €7.50 per day.
Stationsweg
Stationsweg
The best-value bike hire is at Alkmaar Centraal Train Station. Bike rentals begin at €7.50 per day.

Entertainment & Activities

Boat hire! Alkmaar is beautiful from the water. You can take a guided boat tour or hire your own (no boat license required). You'll appreciate the cafes & bars that have their own jetty. Tie up your boat and your waiter will come to you :-)
19 habitants recommandent
Bootjesverhuur De Kraak Actief & Alkmaar Citytours
39 41 Nieuwstraat
19 habitants recommandent
Boat hire! Alkmaar is beautiful from the water. You can take a guided boat tour or hire your own (no boat license required). You'll appreciate the cafes & bars that have their own jetty. Tie up your boat and your waiter will come to you :-)