Alkmaar Kaasmarkt (Cheese Market)

Yesterday I felt the need to venture out, so decided to go to the Cheese Market in Alkmaar. Since my brain injury, I hesitate to go as far as I used to, I just get too tired when I'm in new places especially on my own. Years ago, when Andrew and I would travel, I would go here and there and everywhere on my own...so much to see, so little time!  But now, I tend to stay closer to home unless I have someone to go with.

I took the bus to the Haarlem train station, then the train towards Hoorn to the Alkmaar Station.  Then I took Bus #3 to where the Cheese Market takes place. I arrived around 0930 hrs.

The crowds weren't too bad when I first arrived, but people started flooding in around 0945hrs.

A little history from the Alkmaar website:

The cheesemarket Alkmaar 2013 will take place from
March 29th untill september 6th, every friday from 10 am
untill 12.30 pm on the Waagplein.

Thousands of visitors from all
over the world visit Alkmaar for
its cheese market,a particular spectacle
which includes a market filled with
cheese and hauling cheese carriers.
The cheese market has taken place on the Waagpleinin
Alkmaar since 1593.
Program (subject to confirmation):

• 09.50: Welcoming the visitors
• 09.55:  Introduction of the bell-ringer
• 10.00: The bell is rung and the market is opened
• 10.05 - 10.50: Verbal presentation to visitors,
  in Dutch, German, English and French
• 10.50 - 11.15: Performance by the carillon
• 11.20 - 12.05:  Verbal presentation to
  visitors, in Dutch, German, English and French
• 12.15 - 12.45 : Performance by the carillon
• 12.30: Cheese Market closes

Waagplein, Alkmaar

There were cute kiosks set up with different wares and foods for sale...

From the time I got there till 1000hrs, the church bells were ringing.......very festive!

 At 1000hrs they rang in the market with bells and the Master of Ceremonies came in and started telling us about the cheese market in four languages: Dutch, English, French and German.

It was getting pretty crowded by the time the market "opened".....some of the children had great vantage points!!!

They take the cheese (each cheese "round" weighs 30 kilos) to the weighing station. The buyers take a "core sample" for a taste test, then the price is called out.  The cheese is transported from one side of the market to the other on these sled like things that two men carry. Each sled carries eight rounds.

They were very good at keeping the crowds engaged in what was going on...very entertaining!