Hollands Kaasmuseum
Museum in the historic Weigh House on Alkmaar's cheese market about the history, production and trade of Dutch cheese.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The foundation stone was laid on 23 April 1969 by the Hollands Zuivelarchief foundation, which collected equipment and objects relating to the history and production of dairy products and wanted to put them on display. On 21 April 1983 the Hollands Kaasmuseum finally opened its doors and quickly became a success. In 2013 the museum welcomed its one-millionth visitor.
The museum is housed in Alkmaar's listed Weigh House (Waag), on the first and second floors overlooking the Waagplein, where the famous cheese market takes place on Fridays from April to October. Many of the exhibits are loans from the Zuivelarchief.
The collection shows historic cheesemaking equipment, paintings of the cheese trade and rural life, and information on the best-known Dutch varieties, Edam and Gouda. The tour explains step by step the path from cow to cheese, from the milk through curdling and pressing to the brine bath and ripening on wooden boards, and a timeline traces the story from its beginnings in antiquity to the modern cheese factory. A film from 1955 shows how farmhouse cheese was made. For children there is a detective rally as well as touchscreens and games.
Highlights
- Historic Weigh House with a view of the cheese market
- The path "From cow to cheese" explained step by step
- Historic equipment and paintings on the cheese trade and country life
- Black-and-white film from 1955 about making farmhouse cheese
- Detective rally for children in Dutch, German and English
Permanent exhibitions
- Van koe naar kaas – Interactive station explaining step by step how cheese is made, from milking through curdling, pressing and the brine bath to ripening.
- Nostalgie – Timeline of the history of Dutch cheese, plus a film from 1955 on making farmhouse cheese and photos of old cheese factories.
- Founded
- 1983
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €7 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €3free up to age 3 · Children aged 4 to 12; free up to and including age 3. |
| Groups (10+ people) | –Groups of 10 or more welcome; schools pay a reduced rate, accompanying adults are free. |
Prices for online purchase. Free with the Museumkaart and AlkmaarPas. Card payment contactless or by PIN is possible; credit cards are not accepted.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: not available
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: not available
- Sign language tours: not available
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: not available
The museum is on the 1st and 2nd floors of the Weigh House; a lift in the VVV shop goes up, and there is a wheelchair lift in the cinema room. No thresholds higher than 2 cm. No designated disabled parking spaces. No induction loop, no sign language interpreters, no tactile paving and no Braille.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 3 |
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
The detective rally is available in Dutch, German and English; touchscreens, films and games also invite children to explore. Children can rate the museum using the "Museum Inspecteurs" app.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Kanaalkade · 2-min walk · 250 m
About a 10-minute walk from Alkmaar station (follow the signs for Centrum/Waagplein/Kaasmarkt), or take bus lines 3, 4, 6, 10 and 160 to the Kanaalkade stop, then about a 2-minute walk.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
No parking at the museum. Nearest car parks: Karperton (150 m, about a 5-minute walk) and Schelphoek (about a 10-minute walk).
- Accessible parking: not available
For drop-offs you can drive along Marktstraat to the Waagplein (about 40 m to the entrance). Signposted as "Centrum/Waagplein/Kaasmarkt".
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café: not available
- Restaurant: not available
- Lockers
- Wi-Fi
There is no catering in the museum; eating and drinking is not allowed there. The Waagplein has numerous cafés and restaurants. Free lockers are available.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | A visit takes between half an hour and an hour and a half on average. Guided group tour: 1 hour, max. 15 people, enquire via the form on the website. Schools receive a learning pack with a detective rally. Dogs are not allowed (except assistance dogs); the museum is smoke-free and under video surveillance. |
