Alkmaar Cheese Market in October: Getting There and Getting Around

October is the last month to catch the Waagplein cheese ceremony, and the trains, ferries and footpaths around it reward a little planning.

Reaching Alkmaar by rail from the coast and the capital

Alkmaar sits on a direct Intercity line from Amsterdam Centraal, with four trains an hour and a journey of roughly 35 minutes; from Schiphol Airport the same route takes about 50 minutes with a change at Amsterdam Sloterdijk or a through service depending on the hour. From Haarlem, allow 35 to 40 minutes. The station is a five-minute walk from the Waagplein, straight down Stationsweg and across the canal bridge, so you never need a taxi for the market itself. October fares sit in the usual Dutch short-hop band, and touching in and out with a contactless bank card works on all NS services.

Coming from the north — Den Helder, Hoorn, Enkhuizen — the same station serves you, with Hoorn to Alkmaar taking around 25 minutes. If you are staying in Egmond aan Zee or Bergen aan Zee, the coastal buses run to Alkmaar station in roughly 20 to 30 minutes, though October timetables thin out after the summer season, so check the evening departures before committing to a late return. I would book a hotel within walking distance of the station or the Waagplein rather than relying on the last bus back to the dunes.

The market itself: timing, crowds and what to skip

The cheese market runs on Friday mornings from early April to the end of October, with the ceremonial weighing and carrier demonstrations generally between 10:00 and 12:30. October Fridays are noticeably calmer than July and August, which makes the Waagplein edge easy to reach and the photo line along the weighing house manageable. Arrive by 09:30 to see the guild carriers assemble and the cheese barrows being loaded; by 11:00 the square is fuller and the narration harder to hear. The event is free to watch from the square.

Skip the paid guided walking tours that combine the market with a city stroll — the old centre is compact enough to cover yourself in an hour, taking in the Grote Kerk, the Waag building and the canal ring around the Mient. Also skip the cheese stalls charging tourist-square premiums; the Tuesday and Saturday ordinary markets on the same square sell the same Noord-Holland cheeses at everyday prices. If the weather turns, the Waag museum next door is a sensible indoor substitute.

Getting around town and out to the polders

Central Alkmaar is walkable end to end in about 20 minutes, and the medieval street pattern around Langestraat and Nieuwesloot is best on foot. Bicycles are the practical choice for anything beyond the centre: rental shops near the station charge daily rates in the region of 10 to 15 euros, and the signposted network runs flat and fast toward Bergen, Heiloo and the Schermer polder. The canal ring and the Noordhollandsch Kanaal both have easy paths.

For the wider region, the bus station beside the railway station is the hub: lines run to Egmond aan Zee, Bergen, Schoorl and the bulb country around Sint Maarten. Driving is straightforward — the A9 skirts the town and parking garages near the station cost by the hour, but October is quiet enough that you rarely need a car for the market day. If you want one base for both the cheese market and the coast, I would book a hotel in Alkmaar's old centre and day-trip out from there.

Where to stay and when to come

Hotels cluster in two zones: the historic centre within a few minutes of the Waagplein, and the station quarter, which suits early trains and has more parking. October rates in Alkmaar generally undercut Amsterdam by a wide margin, and mid-week nights are the quietest. Book two to three weeks ahead for the last two October Fridays, when the market's final editions draw day-trippers; the first weekend of the month is easier. Avoid the week of the Alkmaar marathon if you want calm streets.

Best months for this trip are late April to June and September into October: mild weather, thinner crowds and full ferry and bus schedules. October's closing market is the reason to come, and pairing it with a morning in Bergen or a walk on the Egmond beach makes a solid two-night stay. If you only have one day, take the early train, see the 10:00 ceremony, walk the Langestraat and leave by mid-afternoon — but a night in the centre is the better version.

Frequently asked questions

Questions, answered

Do I need to book tickets for the Alkmaar cheese market?

No. Watching from the Waagplein is free and needs no reservation. Arrive by 09:30 on a Friday for the best position near the weighing house. Only organised group tours require advance booking, and they are not necessary.

How long does it take to reach Alkmaar from Amsterdam?

Direct Intercity trains from Amsterdam Centraal take around 35 minutes, with four departures an hour. From Schiphol, allow about 50 minutes. The station is a five-minute walk from the market square, so no onward transport is needed.

Is October a good time to visit Alkmaar?

Yes. The market runs through the final Friday of October, crowds are lighter than in summer, and hotel rates are generally lower than in Amsterdam. Pack for rain and check bus timetables to the coast, which thin out after September.

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