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Events in the Netherlands

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Kaasmarkt Alkmaar: First Cheese Market of 2027

Alkmaar's famous cheese market opens its 2027 season on Friday 26 March, with porters, wheels of cheese and plenty of tradition.
Cheese on sale at a market

Every Friday morning in season, Alkmaar’s Waagplein fills with wheels of cheese, white-clad cheese porters with their distinctive straw hats and wooden barrows, and traders sealing deals with a handclap. It is gloriously touristy, genuinely historic and a must for visiting family.

The 2027 season opens on Friday 26 March and runs every Friday until 24 September, with extra Tuesday evening markets in July and August.

  • When: Friday 26 March 2027, 10:00 to 13:00 (then every Friday until 24 September 2027)
  • Where: Waagplein, Alkmaar
  • Tickets: Free to watch
  • Getting there: Direct trains from Haarlem take about 30 minutes; the Waagplein is a 15-minute walk from Alkmaar station

Good to know: Arrive before 10:00 for a spot at the front, and stay for cheese tasting in the surrounding shops.

Planning your year? See everything on the events calendar.

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