Alkmaar is best known for its centuries-old Cheese Market, one of the last traditional cheese markets in the Netherlands. But beyond the cheese, it offers a beautiful canal-laced old town, excellent cycling, and easy access to North Sea beaches and Amsterdam.
Overview
Alkmaar is significantly more affordable than Amsterdam, making it an excellent base for budget-conscious travelers exploring North Holland. The currency is the Euro (EUR). Daily costs range from €85 for budget travelers to €380 for luxury visitors. The biggest draw — the Friday morning Cheese Market (April-September) — is completely free to watch. Being a smaller city, Alkmaar offers lower accommodation and dining costs while sitting just 35 minutes from Amsterdam by train.
Daily Budget Breakdown
Budget (€85/day | ~$90 USD): Stay in a hostel or budget B&B (€35-55/night), eat at cafes, markets, and snack bars (€15-25/day), and rent a bike (€8-12/day) to explore. The Cheese Market, canal walks, and Grote Kerk exterior are free.
Mid-Range (€170/day | ~$185 USD): Book a 3-star hotel or canal house B&B (€80-130/night), enjoy meals at restaurants and traditional brown cafes (€30-50/day), and take trains to nearby towns or Amsterdam (€10-20/day). Add €10-15 for the Cheese Museum and beer brewery tours.
Luxury (€380/day | ~$410 USD): Stay in a boutique hotel (€180-300/night), dine at Alkmaar’s finest restaurants (€70-120/day), and arrange private tours to tulip fields, windmills, or Zaanse Schans (€40-60/day on transport).
Where to Save
The Cheese Market is Alkmaar’s biggest attraction and it is free. Renting a bike (€8-12/day) replaces all local transport costs and lets you cycle to the North Sea beaches in Bergen and Egmond aan Zee. Using Alkmaar as your base instead of Amsterdam saves 20-30% on accommodation. Buy cheese directly at the market or local shops for excellent prices. Pack picnics from Albert Heijn and enjoy them along the Oudegracht canal.
Where to Splurge
A private guided cheese-tasting tour (€30-50 per person) teaches you to distinguish between jong, belegen, and oud Gouda like a local expert. A day trip to Texel island (ferry €15 return, bike rental €12/day on the island) offers stunning dunes, birdwatching, and the freshest seafood in North Holland. Dinner at a waterside restaurant in the old town, with a three-course menu and Dutch beer selection, runs €40-60 per person and is the perfect way to end a day of exploring.