landmark
Zaanse Schans
A riverside open-air village of working green windmills, clog makers and cheese sheds just north of Amsterdam.
18 km · about 20 min drive
EuropeNetherlandsNorth Holland
Alkmaar
North Holland, Netherlands · Europe
About Alkmaar
Alkmaar works well as a base: 5 minutes from Sint Pancras, 18km from Zaanse Schans.
Alkmaar is in North Holland, Netherlands, with about 95,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Sint Pancras, about 4 km away.
Alkmaar (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɑl(ə)kmaːr] ) is a city and municipality in the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland. Alkmaar is well known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination. The municipality has a population of 113,170 as of 2023.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Alkmaar?
Within an hour or so of Alkmaar: Zaanse Schans (18 km), Haarlem Grote Markt (29 km), Dam Square (30 km), Royal Palace Amsterdam (30 km).
Are there any good drives near Alkmaar?
The nearest famous roads are Houtribdijk, Afsluitdijk and Brouwersdam.
Where is Alkmaar?
Alkmaar is in North Holland, Netherlands, about 4 km from Sint Pancras.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 94,853
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Netherlands
- Region
- North Holland
- Timezone
- Europe/Amsterdam
- Coordinates
- 52.6317, 4.7486
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Netherlands
Watch for cyclists. They generally have priority.
Full driving guide for NetherlandsTags
Worth the detour from Alkmaar
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Haarlem Grote Markt
A handsome historic square dominated by the towering St-Bavo church where Mozart once played the great organ.
29 km · about 35 min drive
landmark
Dam Square
Historic heart of Amsterdam flanked by the Royal Palace, the Nieuwe Kerk, and the National Monument.
30 km · about 35 min drive
landmark
Royal Palace Amsterdam
Imposing 17th-century palace on Dam Square built during the Dutch Golden Age, still used for royal functions.
30 km · about 35 min drive
racetrack
Circuit Zandvoort
Dutch seaside circuit with banked corners, revived for modern F1
30 km · about 35 min drive
museum
Anne Frank House
The preserved hiding place where Anne Frank wrote her famous diary during World War II, a powerful memorial to the Holocaust.
30 km · about 35 min drive
cafe
Winkel 43
Corner café on Amsterdam's Noordermarkt whose towering cinnamon-heavy appeltaart with whipped cream is widely held to be the Netherlands' best apple pie: the queue on Saturday market morning is part of the ritual.
30 km · about 35 min drive
landmark
Amsterdam Canal Ring
UNESCO-listed 17th-century canal system forming concentric half-circles through Amsterdam, lined with narrow merchant houses.
31 km · about 35 min drive
Driving roads near Alkmaar
3 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.
- 45 kmHoutribdijkA 26 km dike road (N302) running straight across the water between Enkhuizen and Lelystad, splitting the IJsselmeer from the Markermeer with sea views on both sides.
- 63 kmAfsluitdijkA 32km causeway sealing off the Zuiderzee, this dead-straight engineering marvel is one of Europe's great driving roads.
Driving in Netherlands
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€2.04/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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