Alkmaar, North Holland, Netherlands
Holland at its most photogenic: a medieval cheese market town of gabled houses, mirror-flat canals, and a world-famous Friday spectacle that's run for 400 years.
Holland at its most photogenic: a medieval cheese market town of gabled houses, mirror-flat canals, and a world-famous Friday spectacle that's run for 400 years.
Alkmaar is a river cruise port — ships moor along the Noordhollands Kanaal, and the historic center is a short, flat walk away.
💡 Pro move: Not a large ocean-cruise terminal. Ocean ships typically use Amsterdam or IJmuiden; Alkmaar is a river-cruise and charter port.
Ships moor along the Noordhollands Kanaal, with the historic center just a short walk inland.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Most river cruise lines | Kanaalkade (up to 130 m)📍 | Docked |
| Smaller vessels / charters | Noorderkade (up to 120 m) or Voormeer (up to 90 m)📍 | Docked |
Alkmaar rewards slow exploration — the cheese market, canals, historic churches, and nearby windmill villages fill a full shore day.
The unmissable Friday tradition. Cheese carriers in guild colors haul rounds of Gouda and Edam on wooden barrows to the Waaggebouw for ceremonial weighing. Runs from the last Friday in March through the last Friday in September, 10:00–13:00, with Tuesday evening markets in July and August.
Find cheese market tours →Inside the 1582 Weigh House on Waagplein, this interactive museum covers the history of Dutch cheese-making — Gouda, Edam, and beyond. Great views of the market square from upper floors.
Find museum tours →The largest Gothic church in North Holland above the North Sea Canal, dating to 1470. Its interior features a historic organ and centuries of local history. Centrally located and easily combined with a canal walk.
Find walking tours →About 12 km southeast, the village of Schermerhorn preserves a cluster of original polder windmills in a classic Dutch landscape. A museum windmill offers tours. Best reached by bike or taxi.
Find windmill tours →See Alkmaar from the water on a guided canal cruise through Verdronkenoord, Luttik Oudorp, and Oudegracht. A relaxed way to appreciate the city's 17th-century gabled warehouses and bridges.
Find canal boat tours →A converted brewery on the Houttil canal traces 600 years of Dutch beer history. Includes a tasting session — a good counterpoint to all that cheese.
Find food and drink tours →Alkmaar's compact medieval center is made for walking — flat, pedestrian-friendly, and full of hidden courtyards and canal-side views.
From the quay, walk to Waagplein for the cheese market square, then continue to Grote Sint Laurenskerk, along the Verdronkenoord canal, past the Accijnstoren (1622 excise tower), and back through Langestraat shopping street.
Seek out Alkmaar's quiet historic hofjes — almshouse courtyards hidden behind medieval facades. Hofje van Splinter and Wildeman Hofje are two of the best, tucked just off the main streets.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →Climate normals for Alkmaar, North Holland, Netherlands (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F / 7°C | 38°F / 3°C | 15 | 8:45 AM | 4:56 PM |
| Feb | 45°F / 7°C | 38°F / 3°C | 12 | 7:57 AM | 5:53 PM |
| Mar | 48°F / 9°C | 39°F / 4°C | 12 | 6:55 AM | 6:45 PM |
| Apr | 54°F / 12°C | 43°F / 6°C | 10 | 6:43 AM | 8:40 PM |
| May | 60°F / 16°C | 49°F / 9°C | 10 | 5:44 AM | 9:31 PM |
| Jun | 66°F / 19°C | 56°F / 13°C | 10 | 5:17 AM | 10:06 PM |
| Jul | 69°F / 21°C | 59°F / 15°C | 12 | 5:36 AM | 9:56 PM |
| Aug | 69°F / 21°C | 60°F / 16°C | 15 | 6:23 AM | 9:06 PM |
| Sep | 66°F / 19°C | 57°F / 14°C | 11 | 7:15 AM | 7:55 PM |
| Oct | 59°F / 15°C | 52°F / 11°C | 15 | 8:07 AM | 6:45 PM |
| Nov | 51°F / 11°C | 44°F / 7°C | 17 | 8:03 AM | 4:46 PM |
| Dec | 47°F / 8°C | 41°F / 5°C | 16 | 8:46 AM | 4:25 PM |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
Transport options from the pier — taxis, shuttles, transit passes, and whether ride-share apps work here.
Alkmaar welcomes river cruise and charter vessels at moorings within or very close to the city center. Most attractions, including the famous cheese market at Waagplein, are easily walkable from the dock.
Local taxis (Taxi Alkmaar / 072) use metered fares. Fixed-price rides can be booked via Staxi app. Credit card accepted, though may incur a small surcharge.
Uber and Bolt both operate in Alkmaar. Use the apps for upfront pricing. Bolt introduced its taxi service here in 2025.
Guided 45-minute canal boat tours depart from the city center (€9.50 adults). A 2-hour North Holland Canal cruise costs €19.50/adult and celebrates the canal's 200th anniversary in 2025.
Alkmaar is a cycling-friendly Dutch city with flat terrain. Bike rentals are available in town, making it an easy and popular way to explore the canals, cheese market, and surrounding area.
Upcoming cruises that call at Alkmaar, North Holland, Netherlands. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.