A Guide to Visiting Dutch Cheese Markets
Over the warmer months of the year, five cities around the Netherlands host weekly cheese markets. Merchants at these seasonal markets tend to dress in traditional attire and participants continue to use age-hold bartering systems to sample, purchase and weigh cheese. Read on to discover what to expect at a Dutch cheese market.
Edam
Edam lies around 20 kilometres north of Amsterdam and is easily accessible via bus, car or bike. The city has played an important role within the Dutch diary industry for centuries and lends its name to one of the most popular cheeses in the world. Although an older cheese market was held in the city until 1922, its current market dates back to 1989 but still involves traditional costumes. haggling and plenty of edam.
Gouda
Gouda probably ties joint first with Edam when it comes to famous places for cheese in the Netherlands. Like its main competitor, Gouda also lends its name to an extremely popular cheese that’s now found on every corner of the globe. Even though many international cheeses bear the name gouda, certain legally protected varieties are only made in the Netherlands including boerenkaas, Noord-Hollandse Gouda and Gouda Holland. The city itself lies almost in the centre of Holland between the four largest settlements in the country, namely Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague and Utrecht. Gouda’s cheese market takes place in its historic market square that’s centred around the city’s iconic Gothic town hall.
Hoorn
Hoorn is around 40 minutes away from Amsterdam by train and lies approximately 20 kilometres north from Edam. Hoorn has hosted a cheese market since 2o07 on the city’s Roode Steen square. During the market a live commentator explains important information via loudspeaker and discusses the ins-and-outs of the historic cheese trade.
Alkmaar
Alkmaar’s cheese market ranks among the most popular tourist attractions in the Netherlands and revolves around several important traditions. Traders at the market still employ a system of handclaps to communicate with one another and carry cheese on wooden, wheelless gurneys. Like Edam and Hoorn, Almaar is located in North Holland and is reachable via an intercity train that travels between Amsterdam and Den Helder.
Woerden
Woerden is around 10 kilometres west of Utrecht and easily accessible by train from several nearby major city including Amsterdam, Rotterdam and the Hague. Tractors carry cheese into Woerden before every market which takes place on the city’s Kerkplein. There’s also a special market that’s held in early June every year which revolves around a unique type of regional cheese called graskaas that’s made from the first milk of spring.
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!
Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.
KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.