Which Dutch cheese market should we see, and on what day?
Let your free weekday decide. Alkmaar's is the grand one: every Friday from 10:00 to 13:00 on the Waagplein, from the last Friday in March to the last Friday in September, which by that rule puts the 2027 season at Friday 26 March 2027 to Friday 24 September 2027, plus Tuesday evening markets in July and August. Gouda's market is on Thursday mornings from April to August and Edam's on Wednesday mornings in July and August. Alkmaar is about 39 minutes from Amsterdam by car, so a four-hour booking (€260 in Business Class) has you on the square before the bell and back by lunch.
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With a chauffeur by the hour: prices per vehicle
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, with a chauffeur by the hour | €65 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, with a chauffeur by the hour | €80 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, with a chauffeur by the hour | €100 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
By the hour: minimum 2 hours, 40 km included per hour, starting and ending in the same city. The chauffeur waits between stops. Prices are per car, not per person, with 9% Dutch VAT included, and the same day and night. During ADE week (pickups October 20 to 26, 2026) fixed ADE-week prices apply, shown before you book; promo codes cannot be used that week. Booked less than 12 hours before pickup: +10%. At an airport or an intercity station the first 60 minutes of waiting are free, elsewhere 15 minutes; after that waiting is charged per minute at the class's hourly rate (Business €65 an hour). Free cancellation up to 1 hour before pickup.
What is included in the price
- A fixed price confirmed at booking, with VAT included: no meter and no surge
- The chauffeur’s name, car and phone number before pickup, plus e-mail reminders 24 hours and 2 hours ahead
- Water and phone chargers (iOS and Android) in the car
- Status updates to the person who booked, if that is not the passenger: confirmed, chauffeur en route, guest in the car, arrived
The markets side by side
| Market | Day | Season | Hours | From Amsterdam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alkmaar | Friday; Tuesday evenings in July and August | Late March to late September | 10:00 to 13:00; evenings 19:00 to 21:00 | About 39 minutes |
| Gouda | Thursday | April to August in recent seasons | 10:00 to 12:30 | About 1 h 03 |
| Edam | Wednesday | July and August | 10:30 to 12:30 in 2026 | About 27 minutes |
Getting the good view
- Be at the square by 9:30; the front rows go first.
- In July and August, Alkmaar adds a children's cheese market from 10:30 to 11:00.
- The market is a demonstration of the old trade; buy your cheese from the shops around the square afterwards.
Related questions
Alkmaar and Zaanse Schans the same day?
Yes; they are about 25 minutes apart by car, so six hours covers both.
Can cruise passengers fit it in?
From IJmuiden, Alkmaar is about 36 minutes by car; see the windmills and cheese excursion.
Is there a market outside the season?
The traditional markets are seasonal; out of season, cheese farms near Zaanse Schans and Edam are the alternative.
Sources
- Kaasmarkt Alkmaar: when the cheese market takes place (checked October 31, 2026)
- Rodi: the Edam cheese market in 2026 (Wednesdays in July and August, 10:30 to 12:30) (checked October 31, 2026)
- Rick Steves Forum: Cheese markets near Amsterdam? (checked October 31, 2026)
Book it, or ask dispatch first
Book online in a few minutes (no account, no app), or send your flight number and address on WhatsApp and dispatch replies in English, 24 hours a day.