Best things to do in Alkmaar on a rainy day

During your visit to Alkmaar, the weather may be disappointing. Because even in Alkmaar it sometimes rains. Fortunately, your visit does not have to fall apart right away. There are plenty of fun indoor activities for young and old. Below are our tips for what to do in Alkmaar with bad weather!

Visit the museum

Visit many fun and interesting museums in Alkmaar. Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar is the memory of the city and therefore definitely worth a visit. Discover and experience the art and history of Alkmaar through high-quality collections of old and early modern painting and arts and crafts. 

Are you a real cheese lover? Then the Hollands Kaasmuseum is fun for young and old to discover. In a playful, educational and interactive way, you will learn everything about the process from cow to cheese!

Located in the middle of the characteristic village of De Rijp, you will find Museum In 't Houten Huis. Here the rich history of the Schermer Island and its seafaring inhabitants is displayed. Discover the stories of how ship owners and traders brought wealth, but also had to fight decay and poverty.

Alkmaar has more museums besides these three. Click below for the complete overview.

BoulesBitesBar

Keep on rollingg..... A game of petanque might have been something you used to play at the campsite. But this 'old-fashioned' game has fully regained its popularity thanks to BoulesBitesBar

This is the combination of boules, street food, drinks and conviviality in an Urban atmosphere. Simply book a customised package and enjoy this unique indoor outing with friends or family.

Escape Room Alkmaar

Have the time of your life at Escaperoom Alkmaar, the most exciting game in Alkmaar and the surrounding region! Here you can choose from no fewer than six different escaperooms, each with its own theme, difficulty level and experience.

Are you with a young group? No problem, at escaperoom Alkmaar you will also find two kid-friendly escaperooms. Work together and unravel all the riddles! Will your team manage to escape within 60 minutes? Or a better question: do you dare to escape?

Visit the theatre

Are you a true lover of the theatre? Visit Alkmaar's theatres on a drizzly day or evening for a unique experience. TAQA Theater de Vest is the cultural heart of Alkmaar and its surroundings. The place to go to escape the daily grind, to get new energy and inspiration. Discover the wide range of art, culture and experience. View the agenda of De Vest here.

Sport activities in Alkmaar

Climbing and clambering on a wall with real ropes? That is possible at Klimcentrum Alkmaar! A sporty outing for young and old, beginners and advanced climbers. The climbing centre has more than 70 climbing routes in all levels of difficulty up to 16 metres high! There is also a cosy bar in the hall where you can catch your breath with a drink.

For real water lovers, a visit to Zwembad Hoornse Vaart is definitely a good idea. This indoor pool is perhaps the most extensive in North Holland. You can easily spend a whole day there, as there is plenty to do! There are several pools, a water playground, a wave pool, diving boards and slides. In addition, there is free entertainment every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon and the 50-metre pool offers enough space for swimmers who want to swim laps at their own pace

There are many more options for an indoor sports outing. Check out the entire offer below.

Discover the magic of AFAS Stadium

Always wanted to know how it feels to stand in the AZ dressing room? Would you like to take a seat behind the press desk where players give their interviews? Would you love to walk out through the players' tunnel? This summer, you will get the chance to do just that. Explore the AFAS Stadium during the guided tours!

From July to September, on no fewer than nine Fridays, you can join an enchanting tour of the AFAS Stadium. You will get exclusive access to locations which are normally not accessible to the public. 

Relax in a wellness centre

In our daily ratrace, a moment of relaxation has become something precious. There are several spots in Alkmaar where you can enjoy a sauna and a lovely massage or body treatment. This is also the case at Spa Sirana. They have facilities that an regular sauna also has to offer, only here you can relax privately with your partner, lover or friends. Book a relaxing moment and enjoy the Finnish sauna, Turkish steam sauna, infrared sauna and whirlpool bath.

On the edge of the city centre, unwind at Stadsoase 25. Imagine yourself in an oasis of calm and enjoy the wood-fired hot tub, the coldtub, the Finnish sauna, a campfire, the bar and the relaxation area where you can get a massage. This wellness is designed and built with reused materials, creating an industrial design.

Race like Verstappen!

Racesquare Alkmaar offers over 1000m2 of pure racing experience. Here you tear around the world's most beautiful Formula 1 circuits, buy awesome merchandise, watch the races together on big screens and enjoy a snack and a drink. You don't need any gaming experience to get the most out of sim racing. Is there a real Max Verstappen in you and will you take P1? Test this at Racesquare Alkmaar.

Movie Night

On a rainy day, what beats a trip to the cinema? In Overstad, you will find two cinemas for a movie night. 

Vue Alkmaar is a true state-of-the-art cinema and since 2016 it has been impossible to imagine Alkmaar without it. With 7 theatres and almost 500,000 visitors a year, Vue Alkmaar is a much-visited location for a night out. Vue is equipped with many new techniques to give everyone an unforgettable movie experience! Check out Vue Alkmaar's offerings here.

Filmhuis Alkmaar is currently the most modern cinema in the Netherlands! It has no less than 3 movie theatres and an atmospheric foyer. The cinemas are equipped with the latest image and sound technology and are multifunctional. Here you can enjoy public films, arthouse films, documentaries and little gems from all over the world. View the programme of Filmhuis Alkmaar here.

Enjoy the restaurants of Alkmaar

On a drizzly day, enjoy the warm and cosy catering establishments in Alkmaar. There are countless options and something for everyone: from a quick bite of the day or tapas to elaborate dining. Alkmaar has a great diversity of restaurants. Check out our page below with the best restaurants in Alkmaar!

Monkeytown

At Monkeytown, children aged 1 to 12 can have a great time all day long. There is plenty to do in the indoor play paradise: jumping on the bouncy cushions and trampolines, playing with superlego or romping around in the ball pit. And Monkeytown Alkmaar even has a laser gaming area.

In short: fun and games! And the parents or supervisors? Of course Monkeytown has not forgotten them. WIFI, good coffee and delicious homemade food are available.

These articles may also interest you:

Top 10 Sights

Museums in Alkmaar

History of Alkmaar

Events