Alkmaar Discovery Tour: The Waag Still Weighs the 1573 Siege

Grote Sint-Laurenskerk

The Grote Sint-Laurenskerk stands on the Kerkplein. After a disaster in 1468, the first stone of a new church was laid in 1470, and it was finished around 1520…

Stadhuis

The town hall on Langestraat has a Gothic main block from the early sixteenth century. In 1572 the town council here chose the side of the Revolt against Spain…

Hof van Sonoy

The Hof van Sonoy began as a convent in 1482. Later it became a house run by the church deacons. Through the gate you reach the courtyard, which now has a rest…

Waag

In 1582 the chapel became a weigh house, and the tower was added in the late sixteenth century. This is where the cheese traded on the square was weighed. The…

Waagplein

The Waagplein is the square of Alkmaar's cheese market. Over the centuries houses were cleared to make it bigger, so more cheese could be laid out. The traditi…

Mient

The Mient runs from the Waagplein to the fish stalls. It is still a market street. Look at the façades, including that of Huis De Croon.