Alkmaar: the charming sister of Amsterdam 🇳🇱 [4K]

Alkmaar: the charming sister of Amsterdam 🇳🇱 [4K]

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in the Youtube website. Alkmaar, Noord-Holland We start this walking tour
with a view of “Accijnstoren” It is April 30th, 9:25 “Accijnstoren” means: Excise Duty – Tower. Or: taxation tower. Located on the “Bierkade” (Beer Quay) it has been built in 1622, Renaissanse style. Here, taxes were collected for all items that were imported by ship into Alkmaar. Excise duties used to be an important source of income for the city. Today, this historic building is the office of the municipal harbour master. This tower has been moved 4 meters to its current location, to make room for modern roads. The “Verdronkenoord” (the flooded land) canal is one of the most beautiful canals to walk up to the heart of the old town The Verdronkenoord in Alkmaar is one of the oldest canals in the city. The canal probably originated at the beginning of the 16th century. Before the land was prepared for construction, it consisted of flooded land. This is where the name Verdronkenoord comes from In the heart of North Holland, beyond the crowds and clamor of Amsterdam, lies a city untouched by haste… Alkmaar. Here, the Netherlands reveals a quieter rhythm —
where time seems to linger gently between cobbled lanes, reflecting canals,
and centuries-old façades. You can count all the different types of
Dutch houses in this small town Alkmaar is not merely a shadow of its larger neighbor. It is a treasure in its own right. A living tableau of Dutch life, architecture, and history. For those seeking the visual poetry of the Netherlands — gabled townhouses, narrow alleys, and tranquil waters Alkmaar offers all, without the presence of modern crowds. Each building here whispers its own tale, from medieval origins to Golden Age prosperity. And as we stroll these quiet streets, we discover the heart of Alkmaar not in grandeur — but in intimacy. In that sense, Alkmaar could be considered the charming little sister of Amsterdam… … from the same family, but smaller.
And filled with stories from across the ages. The stone sign says: love is my name The big-city part of The Netherlands is only
45 kilometers away. This area is considered rural And if you are wondering: Alkmaar is just at sea level. Other parts of North-Holland – like parts around Amsterdam – can be 4 meters below sea level. Other parts of North-Holland – like parts around Amsterdam – can be 4 meters below sea level. THE VIGILANCE
17th century warehouse with a so-called pilaster facade. It is exceptional that the pilasters do not rest on a list, but on four separate consoles. The facade is built slightly forward to facilitate hoisting and to prevent rainwater from entering. The sculpted claw pieces in the top are decorated with tropical fruits. The decoration probably refers to the product that was originally stored here. Wildemanshofje – Courtyard Tucked behind unassuming doors and archways are some of Alkmaar’s most enduring wonders: the hofjes. Once, there were more than sixty of these hidden courtyards, now a cherished handful remain. Built as early as the 14th century, hofjes were places of care and dignity small sanctuaries for elderly women, often widows or the poor, provided by benefactors who sought to blend charity with peace. The sign probably comes from back in the day:
“Forbidden to enter the courtyard with wagons or sleighs” Open to the public, but please respect
the privacy and rest of the people living here The Wildemanshofje, one of the oldest still in existence, welcomes us with serenity. Its brick walls and flowered garden form a living memory Hofjes can be found elsewhere in the Netherlands — in Haarlem, Leiden, and Amsterdam. Some of these hofjes are béguinages, like in Amsterdam. “Hofjes” can be found outside of The Netherlands too: in the almshouses of England or the béguinages of Belgium. There are six exisiting “hofjes” in Alkmaar still.
This one is open to the public. Another one has been turned into a restaurant,
in the old city center Oude Gracht Towards Waag Square We walked back to one of the main canals, to go towares
Waag square – where the famous cheese markets are held Sint Jacobstraat This was an amazing suprise.
We had planned to follow the canal But this street just lured us in
to go and explore At the end of this street is the iconic
“House with the Bullet” from the 80 year war with Spain These are old warehouses next to old houses In those days production was local.
Food came from nearby farmland. And in the cities themselves, consumer goods were made Luttik Oudorp Alkmaar’s story is not solely one of peace. In the late 16th century, it stood at the very edge of history. In 1573, during the Eighty Years’ War, Spanish forces sought to crush the Dutch rebellion. Alkmaar, though small, became the first city to resist and repulse a full Spanish siege. The townspeople, united in desperation and defiance, held the walls for weeks. When the dykes were cut and the land was flooded, the Spanish retreated — and the tide of war began to turn. To this day, one house bears the mark of that siege — a Spanish bullet lodged high in its brickwork The House with the Bullet As the Dutch say: Victory began at Alkmaar. This is that typical green color you see in the province of North-Holland It is used in the cute gingerbread houses in Zaandam and the windmill village of Zaanse Schans This is now a boutique hotel and concept store There are lots more design shops in this town Waag Square – the Cheese market location Nowhere is Alkmaar’s soul more proudly on display than its famed Kaasmarkt — the Cheese Market. Held on Fridays from spring through autumn, it is a spectacle of tradition. Cheese carriers in white uniforms and straw hats trot in measured rhythm, bearing wheels of Gouda and Edam across the square. A choreography unchanged since the 17th century. It is only on fridays in Alkmaar, so we will have to visit Alkmaar again to catch that Other famous Dutch cheese markets: Gouda (thursdays 10:00 – 12:00), April till August Edam. July and August, wednesdays, 10:30 – 12:30 Kiss the cheese maiden Mient – canal Alkmaar truly is like Amsterdam, but then quiter, calmer and offering a better chance to see the old architecture There were lots of these type of shops here This is the fish market. Throughout older Dutch towns you can see buildings like these These structures is where they used to sell fish This canal is on the same were we began our journey at the “Accijnstoren” Alkmaar is near the Dutch north sea coast After a walk through the dunes at “Schoorl”, we headed back for dinner in Alkmaar This is “Hof van Sonoy”: one of the other six Hofjes We end the day with a view on the water leading to the “Molen van Piet”

Those famous old Dutch canal houses & quaint courtyards: Alkmaar is Holland without the crowds. 🇳🇱 Keukenhof in FULL Bloom! https://youtu.be/vrgH21Wx1aU 🌷
🇳🇱 See the annual Flower Parade 2025 :: https://youtu.be/tsj3DRAqino 🦄

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:: Chapters ::
00:00 Alkmaar
01:40 Accijnstoren
03:57 Verdronkenoord
14:15 Wildemandshofje
22:58 Oude Gracht
24:40 Verdronkenoord
27:35 Sint Jacobstraat
32:12 Luttik Oudorp
32:52 House with the Bullet
35:47 Waag
43:38 Mient
51:34 End of day: Dunes & Dinner

:: Music ::
Scott Buckley
Chasing Daylight- Scott Buckley
Childhood – Scott Buckley
by Scott Buckley
released under CC-BY 4.0.
www.scottbuckley.com.au