Alkmaar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids

Alkmaar

De Bierkade

Flag	Coat of arms

Location in North Holland

Alkmaar

Location in Netherlands

Alkmaar

Location in Europe

Government

• Body

Municipal council

Area

• Total

31.20 km² (12.05 sq mi)

• Land

29.26 km² (11.30 sq mi)

• Water

1.94 km² (0.75 sq mi)

Elevation

1 m (3 ft)

Population

(November 2022)

• Total

111,766

• Density

1,012/km² (2,620/sq mi)

Demonym(s)

Alkmaarder
(Informal) Kaaskop

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Postcode

1800–1831

Area code

072

Topographic map of Alkmaar, September 2014

Alkmaar is a city and municipality in the Netherlands. It is located in the province of North Holland. Alkmaar is famous for its traditional cheese market. Many tourists visit the city for its culture and history. As of 2023, about 111,766 people live in Alkmaar.

Alkmaar's Interesting History
- The Siege of Alkmaar
- Alkmaar in Later Years
Getting Around Alkmaar
What to See in Alkmaar
Sports in Alkmaar
Famous People from Alkmaar
Alkmaar's Sister Cities
Images for kids
See also

Alkmaar's Interesting History

The name Alkmaar first appeared in a document from the 10th century. As the village grew, it was given city rights in 1254. This meant it could govern itself more. The oldest part of Alkmaar is on an old sand bank. This spot was a few meters higher than the land around it. This helped protect the town from floods during the medieval period. The area around Alkmaar also has some of the oldest polders (land reclaimed from water) ever created.

The Siege of Alkmaar

In 1573, the city faced a siege by Spanish forces. These forces were led by Don Fadrique, whose father was the Duke of Alva. The people of Alkmaar asked the Prince of Orange for help. He promised to open the floodgates of the dykes and flood the region if needed. Even though farmers worried about their crops, he did this.

Some of his messages were found by Don Fadrique. When the water started to rise, the Spanish soldiers gave up the siege and left. This was a major turning point in the Eighty Years War. It led to the saying, Bij Alkmaar begint de victorie ("Victory begins at Alkmaar"). This important event is still celebrated every year in Alkmaar on October 8th.

Alkmaar in Later Years

In 1799, during the French Revolutionary Wars, an Anglo-Russian army took over the city. However, they were defeated in the Battle of Castricum. After this battle, on October 18, 1799, the two sides signed the Convention of Alkmaar. This agreement decided what would happen to the defeated Anglo-Russian army. The French victory was even remembered on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris as "Alkmaer."

The North Holland Canal was built through Alkmaar and opened in 1824. Later, railways were built. The railway to Den Helder opened in 1865, and the one to Haarlem opened in 1867.

In the second half of the 20th century, Alkmaar grew very quickly. Many new neighborhoods were built. On October 1, 1972, the town of Oudorp and parts of Koedijk and Sint Pancras became part of Alkmaar. On January 1, 2015, the municipalities of Graft-De Rijp and Schermer also joined Alkmaar. This means the historic village of De Rijp is now part of Alkmaar. These once separate villages are now connected by buildings that grew between the late 1970s and early 1990s. During this time, Alkmaar's population almost doubled.

Getting Around Alkmaar

Alkmaar's city center

The famous cheese market

North gable of the Beer Museum in Alkmaar

The A9 motorway connects Amsterdam to Alkmaar. From Alkmaar, it continues to Den Helder as the N9.

You can also travel by train. There are direct trains to many cities like Den Helder, Hoorn, Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Haarlem. Alkmaar has two railway stations:

Alkmaar
Alkmaar Noord

The Noordhollandsch Kanaal (North Holland Canal) runs through Alkmaar. This canal opened in 1824. As of 2017, you can cross it using two special floating bridges called vlotbruggen.

What to See in Alkmaar

Alkmaar has many old buildings that are still standing. One important building is the tall tower of the Grote or Sint-Laurenskerk church. Many people from Alkmaar have their wedding ceremonies there.

The Famous Cheese Market

The most popular attraction, especially in summer, is Alkmaar's cheese market. It takes place at the Waagplein (Weighing Square). This market happens every Friday morning from the first Friday in April to the first Friday in September. It starts at 10:00 AM and ends at 12:30 PM.

At the market, traders and carriers weigh the cheeses in an old-fashioned way, using a hand clap. This is one of only four traditional Dutch cheese markets still active. The market mainly features cheeses made in the local area, not the well-known Edam or Gouda cheeses. You can't actually buy cheese at the market itself. It's a demonstration of how merchants used to trade cheese long ago. However, around the demonstration, there are many stalls where you can buy all kinds of cheese and other related products. The Waag (weighing house) also has the local tourist office and a cheese museum.

Alkmaar has 399 registered national monuments (called rijksmonumenten). Most of these old buildings are found along the city's canals.

Arts and Culture in Alkmaar

Alkmaar has two large theaters and a big cinema. The city also has a lively nightlife with pubs near the cheese market. Every year, at the end of May, Alkmaar hosts the four-day Alkmaar Pride event. This includes a fun canal pride parade on Saturday.

Alkmaar's Museums

Alkmaar is home to several interesting museums:

Beatles Museum – This museum is all about The Beatles. It's here because John Lennon's first guitar was made in Alkmaar.
Holland Cheese Museum – You can find this museum inside the historic weigh house.
National Beer Museum "De Boom" – Learn about the history of beer.
City Museum Alkmaar – Discover the history of the city itself.

Sports in Alkmaar

The AFAS Stadion

Alkmaar is home to the professional football team AZ (Alkmaar Zaanstreek). In 2006, the club moved to a new stadium called the DSB Stadion, which is now known as the AFAS Stadion. It can hold 17,000 fans. In the 2008–2009 season, AZ won the Eredivisie, which is the top Dutch football league. This was their second league title. Famous coaches like Ronald Koeman and Louis van Gaal have coached the team.

The city also has a special track for track cycling called a velodrome. The Dutch national track cycling championships are held there every year. Alkmaar also hosted the 2019 European Road Championships for cycling.

Famous People from Alkmaar

Cornelis van der Lijn, around 1650

Patrick Cammaert, 2001

Many notable people have come from Alkmaar or the surrounding area:

Public Service and Thinkers

Isaac Dorislaus (1595–1649) – A historian and lawyer.
Jan Janse de Weltevree (1595 – ??) – A Dutch sailor, the first Dutchman to visit Korea.
Cornelis van der Lijn (1608–1679) – A Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies and later Mayor of Alkmaar.
Bernard Nieuwentyt (1654–1718) – A philosopher, mathematician, and doctor.
Geertruida Wijsmuller-Meijer (1896–1978) – A resistance fighter who saved Jewish children during WWII.
Cornelis Berkhouwer (1919–1992) – A politician who was President of the European Parliament.
Patrick Cammaert (born 1950) – A retired Dutch general who led UN peacekeeping missions.

Artists and Performers

Bust of A.L.G. Bosboom-Toussaint in Alkmaar

Roderick Teerink, 2006

Jan Wils, 1928

Maria Tesselschade Roemers Visscher (1594–1649) – A poet and engraver.
Caesar van Everdingen (1616/7-1678) & Allaert van Everdingen (1621–1675) – Brothers who were famous painters during the Dutch Golden Age.
Emanuel de Witte (1617–1692) – A painter known for his detailed interior scenes.
Geertruida Bosboom-Toussaint (1812–1886) – A well-known Dutch novelist.
Jan Wils (1891–1972) – An architect and a founder of the De Stijl art movement.
Rudi Carrell (1934–2006) – A famous entertainer who hosted his own TV show.
Angela Groothuizen (born 1959) – A Dutch singer and TV personality.
Marco Borsato (born 1966) – A popular Dutch singer.
Hellen van Meene (born 1972) – A photographer known for her portraits.
Tom Six (born 1973) – A Dutch filmmaker.
Roderick Teerink (born 1976) – An actor and music producer.

Scientists and Business Leaders

Pieter van Foreest, around 1590

Petrus Forestus (1521–1597) – An important physician.
Adriaan Anthonisz (1527–1607) – A mathematician, surveyor, and mayor of Alkmaar.
Willem Blaeu (1571–1638) – A cartographer (map maker) and publisher.
Cornelis Drebbel (1572–1633) – An engineer who built the first working submarine in 1620.
Jan Leeghwater (1575–1650) – An architect and hydraulic engineer, famous for building mills.
Joan Blaeu (1598–1673) – A cartographer, son of Willem Blaeu.
Alfred Peet (1920–2007) – The founder of the American coffee company Peet's Coffee & Tea.

Sports Stars

Maarten van der Weijden, 2008

Dewi Claire Schreefel, 2012

Harm Ottenbros (born 1943) – A former road bicycle racer and world champion.
Dick Quax (1948–2018) – A long-distance runner from New Zealand, born in the Netherlands.
Macha van der Vaart (born 1972) – A field hockey player who won Olympic medals.
Steven de Jongh (born 1973) – A former road bicycle racer.
Maarten van der Weijden (born 1981) – A long-distance and marathon swimmer, named Dutch Sportsman of the Year in 2008.
Theo Bos (born 1983) – A Dutch road and track cyclist.
Dewi Claire Schreefel (born 1985) – A professional golfer.
Tom Büdgen (born 1985) – A professional wrestler known as Malakai Black.
Nycke Groot (born 1988) – A handball player for the Dutch national team.
Joyce Sombroek (born 1990) – A field hockey goalkeeper who won Olympic medals.