Anyone walking through modern Dutch cities sees daily life rushing by at breakneck speed. But anyone who steps onto the historic Waagplein in Alkmaar on a Friday morning finds themselves immediately transported into a living history book where time seems to have stood still for four centuries.
The world’s oldest cheese market takes place on Alkmaar’s main square: a centuries-old spectacle that attracts some 170,000 visitors annually. Here, the white-clad members of the Alkmaar Cheese Carriers’ Guild— founded on June 17, 1593 —still haul 160-kilo wooden cheese crates across the cobblestones, while inspectors and merchants loudly negotiate prices through traditional haggling.
Since 1939, the only one of its kind: how the centuries-old cheese market works
Ever since June 17, 1593, the Alkmaar Cheese Carriers’ Guild has been a fixture on Waagplein. Since 1939, Alkmaar has even been the only city in the Netherlands that still trades cheese in this traditional manner.
- Inspection & Bidding: Inspectors assess the quality of the cheeses, after which traders determine the price per kilo through boisterous bidding.
- 160 Kilo Across the Square: Members of the four districts (recognizable by their yellow, red, blue, or green hat ribbons) haul loads weighing up to 160 kilo to the historic Waag.
It’s a captivating, living history book that you can’t experience anywhere else in the world quite like this.
The Bizarre Rules of the Cheese Carriers’ Guild
The guild members adhere to strict traditions. Fighting, smoking, and drinking are prohibited, but the most striking rules come into effect as soon as something goes wrong.
If a cheese falls off the wooden carrier, swearing is strictly forbidden; the carrier is required to shout “Owl!” across the square. Anyone who arrives late receives a fine from the provost, who goes by the nickname “The Executioner.” Each carrier also has his own alias, such as “The Chatterbox” for a talkative person. The men save up the fines for their annual “Crumbs Evening” before Christmas.
How to Visit the Alkmaar Cheese Market
The cheese market will take place from March 27 through September 25, 2026, on Waagplein in Alkmaar.
- Friday morning: 10:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
- Tuesday evening: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (only in July and August).
- Accessibility: From Amsterdam Central Station, you can reach Alkmaar by train in just over 35 minutes. From the station, it’s about a 10-minute walk straight into the historic center.
