One of my favorite cities, and a very popular place for tourists to day trip (or even stay!) to from Amsterdam, is Alkmaar. Located in the north province of the Netherlands, it is most well-known for it’s traditional cheese market and medieval buildings that are still intact, most notably the tall tower of the Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk. For me, it is also the largest city near to where my parents grew up and is filled with childhood memories, like shopping along the the Langestraat and De Laat with my uncle or grabbing a ice cream at the IJssalon Laan with my parents. Today, I’m excited to share with you my travel guide to Alkmaar Netherlands which is perfect for whether you’re planning a weekend trip to the area, or a one-day excursion!
Travel Guide to Alkmaar, Netherlands
ARRIVE
The city of Alkmaar is located in the Dutch province of Noord- Holland and at 40 minutes by car or train from Amsterdam and about 50 minutes by car or train from Schipol Airport. Once in Alkmaar, you will not necessarily need a car unless you want to visit the surrounding areas small towns or head to the beach for the day!
STAY
Golden Tulip Alkmaar – A four star modern hotel close to the center of Alkmaar and walkable to the local sights.
Wolf Hotel & Kitchen – This delightful romantic environment sits alongside many Alkmaar landmarks.
Boutique Hotel Villa Kranenbergh – This adorable boutique hotel is 3 miles outside of Alkmaar in the town of Bergen and is a modernists dream. If you have a car during your time in Holland this would be an idea place to stay!
SEE
Whether you’re planning on staying a weekend in Alkmaar or just a few hours, everything you need to know can be found below!
– Take a Canal Tour, my personal favorite is operated by Roodvaart Alkmaar and is accessible De Mient street opposite from the Waag (cheese weighing) building. From May until September the boats depart every day, one the hour.
– Walk through the the Grote Kerk, or big church, of Alkmaar. This church dates back to the 15th century and is one of the best places to visit in Alkmaar.
– Visit the traditional Alkmaar cheese market or any of the other markets Alkmaar offers between April and September on Friday’s.
– Visit the Hollands Kaasmuseum, or the Holland cheese museum.
– One of the best museums of Alkmaar is the Stedelijk Museum. If you like to visit museums, or are visiting Alkmaar outside the canal tour season, then this is a great pick!
– Visit the windmill ‘t Roode Hert in Alkmaar, here you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, and even take a tour.
– Stroll through the town at night, as the city lights up and reflects over the canals, it is stunning to see especially on a clear night and is easily my favorite part about visiting Alkmaar.
Grab some fries from ‘t Friethuys Groeneveld while you meander.
EAT
De Koning – A great restaurant bar to spend the evening enjoying!
‘t Friethuys Groeneveld – Grab some delicious and super fresh fries from this little spot. So fresh we watched them peel the potatoes..
De Binnenkomer – Great European food perfect for lunch or dinner!
ECHT Alkmaar – Super fresh, European inspired food in a light and bright atmosphere.
Granada – Dutch, Mediterranean food at it’s finest.
Deli Indonesian Restaurant – When in the Netherlands you must enjoy Indonesian food, it’s absolutely superb and this is one of our favorites!
‘T Fnidsen – Last time while I was visiting Holland, my family and I came to this restaurant for dinner and it was fantastic! They offer wine pairings with your meal which I highly recommend.
IJssalon Laan – Save room for dessert! This ice cream shop offers the best ice cream in Alkmaar and has been around since the late 40s.
THE ETC.
Language: The official language is Dutch, but almost everyone speaks English, so don’t worry too much about there being a language barrier.
Currency: Euro
Credit Cards and Banks: Pretty much all restaurants and hotels will accept credit/debit cards. My very favorite Travel Credit Card is this card here. It includes the best travel insurance and has a very low annual fee.
Climate: You can visit Alkmaar year-round, but the winter months (November through March) can be a bit chilly. Make sure to pack layers and bring a very warm coat. The warmest and busiest (for tourism) months in Alkmaar are May through September. My personal favorite month to visit is April and if timed perfectly, you’ll see all the tulips in bloom!
Planning a trip to Europe? Make sure you read my Packing For Europe guide!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this travel guide to Alkmaar! If you’re planning a trip to the Netherlands soon, then check out my Travel Guide to Amsterdam as well!
Safe Travels!
XO,
M
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