Museum BroekerVeiling

About the museum

The Broeker Veiling was founded on 29 July 1887 at the Bakkersbrug in Broek op Langedijk, where growers sold their cabbages, which were shipped to Amsterdam and elsewhere. It is regarded as the world's first drive-through vegetable auction and the first auction to sell horticultural produce by the Dutch auction (descending price) method. In 1912 the present auction building was built in late Art Nouveau style on wooden piles above the water, so that growers could sail their loaded barges through the auction hall; the mechanical auction clock from 1903 still hangs above the passage. In the 1920s, covered mooring halls for up to 200 boats were added.

With the land consolidation of the 1960s, transport by water lost importance; the auction merged in 1968 and was dissolved in 1973. The municipality bought the complex in order to preserve it as a monument. The museum first opened its doors as early as 5 June 1974, the ensemble has been on the Rijksmonumenten list since 1976, and in 1979 the restored building was officially opened by Princess Beatrix. In 2009 the museum received an entrance and exhibition building designed by Flip Rosdorff.

Today the BroekerVeiling is a hands-on museum: visitors take seats in the auction benches, press the clock's button and bid for real seasonal vegetables, sail for about an hour through the Rijk der Duizend Eilanden (Realm of a Thousand Islands), follow an audio tour and visit the exhibitions. The restaurant in the mooring halls was completely renovated in 2025. The museum aims to preserve the history of the area's market gardeners (tuinders), millers, lock keepers and boatmen for future generations.

Highlights

• Demonstration auction in the historic auction hall with the original auction clock from 1903
• Boat tour through the Rijk der Duizend Eilanden included in the admission
• Auction building from 1912 on wooden piles in the water (Rijksmonument)
• Audio tour, exhibitions and "Kijk en doe" (look and do) route for the whole family
• Proeflab for school classes, children's parties and whisper boat rental

Permanent exhibitions

• Demonstrationsauktion – Visitors sit in the historic auction benches, watch barges laden with vegetables sail into the hall and bid themselves; several sessions daily.
• Ausstellungen zu Gartenbau und Rijk der Duizend Eilanden – Interactive halls on the history of the auction, on agriculture and on the importance of healthy eating.
• Rundfahrt durchs Rijk der Duizend Eilanden – Boat trip of about one hour through the Oosterdel nature area, with the skipper explaining the landscape and history.

Founded

1974

Admission & discounts

Prices 2026. Admission includes the boat tour, demonstration auction, exhibitions and audio tour. Free admission with the Museumkaart, the VIP-KAART of the VriendenLoterij, the ICOM card and for Friends of the Museum; AlkmaarPas 20% discount. Card payment only (pin-only). Online tickets are available; different prices may apply for events.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Wheelchair users can visit the museum, the auction and the boat tour: both tour boats have a lift, there is a wheelchair route to the auction building, and the auction hall has space for 8 wheelchairs. Three accessible toilets (two in the entrance building "De Toekomst", one in the museum building "Het Verleden"). Two disabled parking spaces next to the museum. Prams, buggies and walkers are no problem. Dogs on leads are allowed, also on board and at the auction.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Kids’ birthday parties

Free rally ("Speurtocht") and "Kijk en doe" route; children's party from €16.50 per child (2.5 hours, rally, auction, chips and ice cream), latest start 2:00 p.m. Whisper boats for up to 6 people to sail yourself (€27.50 per hour).

Getting there & parking

The museum is signposted from the Alkmaar ring road; from the A9, pass the AZ stadium. From Heerhugowaard the museum can also be reached on foot in about 40 minutes (3 km).

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant

Restaurant in the mooring halls (renovated 2025), open 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. when the museum is open, kitchen until 4:00 p.m.: coffee and tea with apple pie, lunch, "Broodje Langedijk" with sauerkraut and sausage, picnic baskets. Card payment only. The whole site is smoke-free.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 300 guests.

Rooms for 10 to 300 people: Restaurant De Lighallen (100 seated/150 standing), Lientzaal (up to 200), meeting room in the entrance building (40), Koopmansboetje (up to 35), Afmijnlokaal from 1912 (100+). Weddings, parties and funeral receptions are also possible; enquiries to reservering@broekerveiling.nl.

Plan your visit