Events in Alkmaar
An overview of all big events in Alkmaar. This page changes regularly to keep you updated!
An overview of all big events in Alkmaar. This page changes regularly to keep you updated!
In 2023, it will be exactly 450 years since the courageous people of Alkmaar defeated the Spanish army in the Eighty Years' War. Therefore, from 8 October 2022 to 8 October 2023, we will celebrate 450 years of the Alkmaar's Victory. It will be an anniversary year extensively celebrated by residents of the municipality of Alkmaar, with many fun events and activities in addition to commemorations.
You can enjoy this traditional event from the 31st of March until the 29th of September, every Friday from 10:00h to 13:00h, on the Waagplein in the centre of Alkmaar.
Experience the Cheese Market in the evening, which is held every Tuesday night in July and August from 19:00h – 21:00h.
King Willem-Alexander will be celebrating his birthday on 27 April and we will of course also be celebrating that in a big way in Alkmaar! Are you planning to come to Alkmaar on King's Night or King's Day? Here you’ll find all the information you’ll need. And, don't forget to come in orange, because it will be one big orange party.
King's Night - Strolling along the free market, enjoying a drink and enjoying live music in the squares and in the pubs.
King's Day - The large free market, many different parties and orange everywhere: view all activities for young and old here.
Plan your trip - because it gets busy in the city and trains and buses occasionally depart at different times, it is useful to plan your visit in advance.
Free market - The free market in Alkmaar is always a pleasant bustle on Koningsdag. Residents and visitors to Alkmaar sell second-hand items, such as items from the shed or attic. The free market takes place on 26 April from 3 p.m. You can sell until 27 April at 5 p.m. View the free market area here. Car traffic is not possible in the free market area and bus lines are diverted through the city centre.
Free to be equality! Alkmaar Pride is there to increase the acceptance and integration of transgender, lesbian, gay and bisexual residents in Alkmaar and the surrounding area. Pride will be celebrated in Alkmaar for a week, culminating in a colourful canal parade on May 27!
Every year, there are a few cozy nights on which shops in the city centre are open until 23h. These shopping nights ends with a great musicshow! In 2023, you'll find two of these Shopping Nights in the city centre of Alkmaar: on the 20th of May and the 30th of September.
On Saturday the 3rd and Sunday the 4th of June 2023, the spectacular event called 'Kaeskoppenstad' will take place in Alkmaar again. During this weekend, hundreds of actors will show you how daily life in Alkmaar was, 445 years ago.
Against the historic backdrop of Alkmaar's Old Town, travel back to the year 1573 during Kaeskoppenstad.
In the summer you can enjoy Zomer op het Plein (Summer on the Square). In the summer weekends, TAQA Theater De Vest programs free performances on the Canadaplein in the heart of Alkmaar. On Friday and Saturday evenings, come and listen to the best concerts. On Sunday afternoons, it's time for spectacular shows of different genres.
For a few years now, there are 3 Tuesday nights on which you can enjoy live concerts on a canal in the city centre of Alkmaar.
You can choose to rent (or bring your own) boat or to take a seat at the side of the canal.
At the funfair of Alkmaar, you can enjoy all sorts of amusement rides as a visitor. There are rides for children but there are also exciting rides for real daredevils.
There are various nostalgic amusement rides that evoke the fairground atmosphere of the past. A big fireworks show takes place on the last day of the funfair.
Lionsclub Alkmaar organizes an enchanting evening boattour on the canals of Alkmaar. This year will be the 8th edition of this event!
During this boattour you will see the historical citycentre, the beautiful canals, monumental buildings and nostalgic bridges. An amazing way to enjoy this annual event with family, friends, business relations or colleagues! All the profit will go to charity.
On Saturday the 9th of September, 82 monumental doors in the municipality of Alkmaar are open for visitors. The theme of Open Monumental Day of 2023 is Living heritage.
Everyone can enjoy the beautiful homes, town halls, mills, churches and more on this day. In and around the monuments are fun activities for all ages.