Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar

About the museum

The Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar is the municipal museum of Alkmaar and one of the oldest museums in the Netherlands. It opened in 1875; the driving force behind its founding was Cornelis Bruinvis. Previously, in 1873, a building had been specially constructed on Breedstraat for the city's first museum. From 1968 to 2000 the museum was housed in the former civic guard hall De Nieuwe Doelen on Doelenstraat, after which it moved to the cultural building on Canadaplein, opposite the Grote or Sint-Laurenskerk. The building was constructed to a design by the firm Mecanoo and was fundamentally modernised from 2012 to 2014.

The collection comprises historical material from the Alkmaar region, a photographic collection of the city, painting of the 16th and 17th centuries and modern art. The Golden Age masters include Caesar van Everdingen, Pieter Saenredam, Maarten van Heemskerck and Willem van de Velde II; in 2017 the museum also bought Salomon van Ruysdael's view of the Laurenskerk from the north. There are also silverware and testimonies of the Siege of Alkmaar as well as of the city's history of slavery.

A second focus is the Bergense School, the first expressionist artists' movement in the Netherlands, which emerged around 1910 in the dune village of Bergen. The museum owns more than 280 works by this group from the period 1900 to 1955. Since 2025 the museum has also been planning the long-term presentation of the Kremer Collectie with masterpieces of the Golden Age. For its 150th anniversary in 2025, the museum gave the city rare panels by the Master of Alkmaar.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition “Allemaal Alkmaar” with masterpieces by Everdingen and Saenredam
• Collection on the Bergense School with over 280 works
• Ruysdael's view of the Sint-Laurenskerk (acquired in 2017)
• Silver collection and stories about the siege and the history of slavery
• Museum café with terrace facing the Sint-Laurenskerk
• Combination ticket with the Hollands Kaasmuseum

Permanent exhibitions

• Allemaal Alkmaar – The city collection tells the history of Alkmaar with masterpieces by Everdingen and Saenredam, silver, the siege and the history of slavery, plus hands-on activities for children.
• De Bergense School – Highlights from the collection on the Bergense School, early Dutch Expressionism with strong colours and contrasts.

Founded

1875

Admission & discounts

Free with Museumkaart, VriendenLoterij VIP-Kaart, ICOM, Vereniging Rembrandt and for friends of the museum. Discount cards must be shown at the ticket desk. Tickets can be bought online with a time slot; in the museum only payment by PIN or credit card is accepted.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• 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

There is a raised step in front of the entrance; to the right of the entrance there is a ramp for walkers, wheelchairs and mobility scooters. The permanent exhibitions can be reached by lift. Two loan wheelchairs and folding stools for the exhibition rooms (reserve by telephone). The accessible toilet is on the ground floor next to the lift. The café and museum shop are accessible at ground level. The nearest public disabled parking space is on Molenbuurt. Adapted tours are possible on request; it is generally quieter on Tuesday mornings, Thursday afternoons and Saturday and Sunday mornings. Pets are not allowed, except recognised assistance dogs and guide dogs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

In the permanent exhibition “Allemaal Alkmaar”, creative, interactive games invite children and parents to explore, such as the “Monsterwerkplaats” (Monster Workshop). During school holidays there are workshops for children of all ages and regular family activities.

Getting there & parking

There is a bicycle garage beneath Canadaplein.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Lockers

Museum café (Tuesday to Sunday 11 am–4 pm) with organic dishes and Fairtrade coffee and a terrace facing the Sint-Laurenskerk, accessible without an admission ticket. The museum shop can also be visited without a ticket. Food and drink brought from home are only allowed in the foyer.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 50 guests.

Auditorium on the ground floor with a projection screen for up to 50 people (during opening hours). Outside opening hours, small receptions, dinners and tours are possible; prices on request.

Plan your visit