The Netherlands is an incredibly beautiful country and there is so much to see beyond Amsterdam. That is why I always recommend taking some day trips away from the capital when you visit. An Amsterdam to Alkmaar day trip is definitely at the top of my recommendations for so many reasons.
First off, getting from Amsterdam to Alkmaar is very easy because both the cities are well connected by train. Alkmaar also happens to be one of the famous cheese towns in the country. Other similar towns are Edam and Gouda. You’ll even find that the Dutch Venice aka Giethoorn is another good place to try out cheese but it is much further and more difficult to get to.
Alkmaar is one of the most scenic cities I have been to. There are plenty of things to do in the city beyond cheese which is why this makes a particularly interesting choice for a visit.
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Table of Contents
How To Get From Amsterdam To Alkmaar
As I mentioned before, getting from Amsterdam to Alkmaar is a breeze. This is particularly true if you pick a central location when it comes to where to stay in Amsterdam. That way you can just walk back to your accommodation when you get back to the city.
Train From Amsterdam To Alkmaar
The best way to get from Amsterdam to Alkmaar is to take the train. To do this you should head to the Centraal Station in Amsterdam. There are frequent trains that leave from there. The main train station in Alkmaar is walking distance from the city so this really is an easy choice. If you manage to get one of the direct connections you will reach Alkmaar in 35 min which is pretty awesome.
This definitely makes sense if you stay centrally. That way you can check out all the things to do in the city, spend time at the Dam square and move out of the city to places like Alkmaar too!
Drive
Now you could do what we did and just drive down. This works if you have already rented a car or have your own. Don’t rent one just for this journey. Trust me the train is much easier.
There are plenty of parking garages in the city. I would recommend finding one a little further from the city and walking because it is just so much cheaper. That’s what we did.
Tour
Best Time To Visit Alkmaar
First off, if you have a choice try and make the trip on a Friday morning during summer. This is because this is when the Alkmaar cheese market is in session. The cheese market opens on the last Friday of March and is then held every Friday till the last Friday of September. The market starts off at 10 am and ends at 1 pm.
In July and in August there is an additional cheese market that happens in the evening. That is from 7pm to 9 pm.
1 Day In Alkmaar Itinerary
Now I’ve talked about all the things to do in Alkmaar before in detail but I haven’t really mapped out a 1 day in Alkmaar itinerary yet. So for this Amsterdam to Alkmaar day trip, I thought that I would draw up an itinerary that would work well if you are headed that way.
Start Off At The Cheese Market
If you are headed from Amsterdam to Alkmaar on a Friday then start off at the cheese market. You need to start here at around 10am in the morning. This is when the square is a buzz with activity and you can see the reenactment of how the Alkmaar markets used to be through the centuries.
You could stay around and walk to see the show from different perspectives or just sit in the stand and get a bird’s eye view. If you are short like me, you will be glad t know that everything is projected on the overhead TV.
Weigh Yourself At Waagtoren
One of the cool things to do while you are close to the cheese market is to head to the Waagtoren. The building itself is gorgeous but it is also a hub of activity. Here you can see the cheese brought in and weighed. It is pretty cool. The weights are shouted out loudly in Dutch before the cheese is carted off.
That’s not all you can do here. There’s a spot where you can pose for photographs with cut outs and even carry some models of cheese wheels. Now one of the most interesting things to do here is to weigh yourself on the cheese weighing scales.
You get to wear cool hats and carry a cheese wheel while you are at it. Its a fun experience especially when you get lifted up in the air. It just costs 1 euro per person so it isn’t expensive either. Plus if you ask the person behind to click a photograph, you get to take a cool Dutch souvenir home.
Wander Around The Market Stalls
There are loads of stalls that are set up around the Waagtoren. These have a lot of handicrafts made by locals. It is fun to browse through them but I must warn you that this is a busy time to be in the square. One of the cool things to do here is to try out the Dutch snacks like profiteroles. You could even try out different types of cheese here and buy some to take home.
Catch A Meal At One Of The Restaurants On Waagplein
Once the cheese market closes up, the Waagplein clears up and the restaurants set up tables here. This makes it a great place to sit and enjoy the view. There are a number of good places to eat but you don’t have to head here just for a meal. You can stop by to have a drink and a couple of snacks. Definitely one of the Dutch things to do.
Take A Cruise Around The City
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One of the things that’s on everyone’s bucket list when they head out on an Amsterdam to Alkmaar day trip is to catch the cruise. These cruises leave from close to Waagtoren so you don’t really have to walk far. The cruise will take you all around the canals of the city. It gives you a chance to see Alkmaar from a different perspective.
Walk Through The Busy City Streets
I loved the medieval streets of Alkmaar. They are bustling and they are pretty. We walked through these streets for a long time. We explored the numerous different shops, caught some ice cream along the way, chose to snack on fries and just were a part of the crowds moving up and down the streets. Its not quite as crowded as Amsterdam so you don’t feel rushed. Its a pleasant flow. We even found a cool board game shop and a Lego store.
Admire The Old Buildings
While you are wandering through the streets make special note of Sint Laurenskerk, the T’Moriaanshoofd and the Alkmaar city hall. These were my favorite buildings and probably the most noteworthy after the waagtoren.
Visit The Sint Laurenskerk
One of the buildings that you can enter for free is the Sint Laurenskerk. This building is as beautfiul inside as outside. It also houses the largest stained glass windows in Europe.
The stained glass is beautiful. There are a lot of different aspects of the church that you can check out. There are signs that talk about the different aspects of the church too.
Inside you will find a restroom and a nice café should you want to pause for a bit. Its great when the weather is bad or it rains.
Learn About Alkmaar’s History At The Stedelijk Museum
If you are interested in Alkmaar’s history then I highly recommend visiting the Stedelijk museum in the city. Not only does it chronicle the past of the city. It also has some really cool paintings, a couple of interactive exhibits, routes for the children and even a stand for kids to paint and color. Our kids loved it here and it was a great break after walking in the sun.
If you are thinking about taking a day trip from Amsterdam to Alkmaar then think no further. Alkmaar is beautiful, its interesting, there are plenty of things to do and see but its the general vibe that captured me from the moment I set foot in the city.