Skip to content
Voykit
Set your trip — dates, party, bagsPlanner

Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · Netherlands

Alkmaar

Give Alkmaar one full day: Friday morning cheese market, Waag and old town on foot, then train out. Sleep one night only if you add the dunes.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
EUR
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep
avoid Jul–Aug (crowds at the cheese market), Nov–Feb (cold, short days)
Airport
AMS
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Benelux ↗Dutch and Belgian police can ask anyone to show identification (in the Netherlands from age 14): carry the original passport or EU ID card — a photocopy is not accepted.
  • Benelux ↗Tap-in fares, Dutch and Belgian domestic tickets and Luxembourg's free transport all stop at the border: buy an international ticket for cross-border legs, or you will be fined on board.
  • Netherlands ↗The Netherlands is in the EU and the Schengen area; the EU Entry/Exit System applies to non-EU visitors. Check the official EU and Dutch sources for your passport.
  • Netherlands ↗Red or marked bike lanes are for bikes: do not walk or stand in them, and look for cyclists before crossing.
  • Netherlands ↗Amsterdam has local rules on public drinking, cannabis use in some areas and short-term rentals; check the city's current rules and book licensed accommodation.
  • Netherlands ↗The Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum and Keukenhof sell timed tickets online only or mostly; book before you arrive rather than queueing.

Alkmaar is a compact 17th-century town 35–40 minutes by Intercity from Amsterdam, and the base for the North Holland dunes and polders. The old centre is about 1 km across and walkable in half a day. Most travellers come for the Friday cheese market (spring and summer) and leave the same evening.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Alkmaar, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee€2.50–4 (≈ US$3–5)
  • Street or quick mealCheese sandwich or broodje€4–8 (≈ US$5–10)
  • Beercafé / supermarket€4–6 (≈ US$5–7)€1–2 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Stedelijk Museum, Cheese Museum)Stedelijk Museum adults €12; family ticket €16.€12–16 (≈ US$14–19)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person€30 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per room€130 (≈ US$160)
  • High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per room€250 (≈ US$300)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget €60 (≈ US$70) · Mid €110 (≈ US$130) · High €190 (≈ US$250)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Friday cheese market on WaagpleinWaag weighing house and Cheese MuseumSint Laurenskerk and LangestraatMoat, bastions and De Molen van PietGateway to the Schoorlse Duinen
Airports
AMS Amsterdam Schiphol (Train to Amsterdam-Sloterdijk, then Intercity to Alkmaar; about 1 h 10 min total (check))

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Alkmaar: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

6°C

1°C

12 rd

Feb

7°C

1°C

9 rd

Mar

10°C

3°C

11 rd

Apr

13°C

5°C

8 rd

May

17°C

8°C

9 rd

Jun

20°C

11°C

8 rd

Jul

22°C

13°C

9 rd

Aug

22°C

13°C

10 rd

Sep

19°C

11°C

10 rd

Oct

15°C

7°C

12 rd

Nov

10°C

4°C

12 rd

Dec

7°C

2°C

12 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Walk. The old city is about 1 km east–west and everything inside the moat is on foot. Buses from the station serve the coast villages; rent a bike at Fietspoint Stoop beside the station for the dunes and polders.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Bergen and Bergen aan Zee

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Bus 166 from Alkmaar station, about 20–30 min

Dune village plus a beach; pair with the Schoorlse Duinen on a bike.

Schoorlse Duinen

go

Door to door: About 45–60 min

Bus toward Schoorl, then walk or bike into the reserve

Forested dunes and the highest dunes in the province; go early, bring water.

Broek op Langedijk

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Bus 169 from Alkmaar station

Broeker Veiling, the old auction house on the water.

Hoorn

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Train toward Hoorn, about 30 min

Another historic harbour town; easy half-day add-on.

Enkhuizen

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Train via Hoorn, about 1 h

Zuiderzee Museum; a full day if you include the outdoor museum.

Castricum

caution

Door to door: About 40 min

Train south, about 25 min

Station village with dune access; only worth it if you want the beach reserve.

Schagen

caution

Door to door: About 40 min

Train north, about 25 min

Market town; combine with the West Frisian polders.

Den Helder

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

Train north, about 45 min

Naval port and ferry to Texel; a long half-day.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Old city west (near the station)

Closest to the station and the shops; 5–10 min walk over the Bergerbrug into the centre.

Waagplein and Langestraat

The market square and main street; noisier on Friday mornings in season.

Station and Noorderarcade

Cheaper chain hotels and a shopping centre; 10–15 min walk to the old town.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
€60–90 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
Mid
€90–150 (≈ US$110–180) excl. bed
High
€150 (≈ US$180)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel double room1 × 1 night × €130€130
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €110€220
Train Amsterdam–Alkmaar, one way2 × €10 · check€20
Bike rental, one day2 × €12 · check€24
eSIM, about a week of data2 × €10€20
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge€41
Trip total≈ €228 per person per day, bed included€455≈ US$550

2026 estimate in euros; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee€2.50–4 (≈ US$3–5)
Cheese sandwich or broodje€4–8 (≈ US$5–10)
Museum entry (Stedelijk Museum, Cheese Museum)Stedelijk Museum adults €12; family ticket €16.€12–16 (≈ US$14–19)
Beer: café / supermarket€4–6 (≈ US$5–7) / €1–2 (≈ US$2–3)
Train Alkmaar–Amsterdam, one waycheck€10–12 (≈ US$12–14)
Bike rental, one daycheck€10–15 (≈ US$12–18)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Alkmaar is a low-risk Dutch city; the real issues are bikes on the pavement, uneven brick streets and pickpockets in the Friday market crowd. Emergency number is 112.
  • The cheese market runs Friday mornings only, spring and summer, roughly 10:00–12:30; outside that window Waagplein is an ordinary square.
  • Some old-town streets are brick and uneven; watch cyclists, who have priority.
  • Many small museums and shops close on Mondays; check before you plan a Monday visit.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
112

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

AlkmaarAlkmaar

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Naar dit adres, alstublieftTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance112

Embassy

No embassy in Alkmaar; embassies are in The Hague and consulates in Amsterdam.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Train Alkmaar → Amsterdam Centraal: about €10–12 (≈ US$12–14), 35–40 min (check)
  • Bus Alkmaar station → Bergen aan Zee: about €4–6 (≈ US$5–7), 30 min (check)
  • Bike rental, one day: €10–15 (≈ US$12–18) (check)

Say or show

  • Hallo — Hello (HAH-loh)
  • Dank je — Thank you (dahnk yuh)
  • Pardon — Excuse me (par-DON)
  • Hoeveel kost het? — How much is it? (hoo-VAYL kost hut)
  • Kan ik met kaart betalen? — Can I pay by card? (kan ik met kahrt buh-TAH-lun)
  • Waar is het station? — Where is the station? (vahr is hut stah-SHON)

Cheese market Fridays only, spring and summer; check the official visit site before you travel.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Alkmaar. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep · avoid Jul–Aug (crowds at the cheese market), Nov–Feb (cold, short days) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 8 day-trips, door to door
  6. 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for AMS: last Intercity departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters inside the moat: station and Bergerbrug, Laurenskerk and Canadaplein, Langestraat and Waagplein, the moat and De Molen van Piet.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Waag and Cheese Museum, Stedelijk Museum, Sint Laurenskerk) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Cheese-market Friday fixture so the day plan can go green or redirect to Hoorn.

Meanwhile

Back to Netherlands

Sources