Coin variations

Kaasmarkt

Alkmaar's cheese market at the Waagplein is one of the country's most popular tourist attractions. The cheese market traditionally takes place on the first Friday in April and the last market of the season is the first Friday in September.

Every Friday morning the Waagplein is the decor of this traditional cheesemarket. After the old fashion way of hand clap trading, traders and carriers will weigh the cheeses. It is one of only four traditional Dutch cheese markets still in existence.

The Alkmaar cheese carriers’ guild is responsible for moving and weighing cheese during the cheese market on Fridays. The cheese carriers wear the traditional costume: a white suit and a straw hat with a ribbon in the colour of their own veem.

The traditional fare of this cheese market are those cheeses made in the local area. It is not actually possible to buy cheese at the market itself, which is really only a demonstration of how this merchants' market operated in times gone by. However, the demonstration, which takes place in front of the medieval weighing house, is surrounded by many specialized stalls where it is possible to buy all kinds of cheese related products.

The Waag is also home to the local tourist office and a cheese museum.

• Location information
• www.vvvalkmaar.nl