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Offered languages
- English
- English
A cannonball smashed through a basket maker's home in 1573 and, somehow, hurt no one. It's still lodged in the wall, and this self-guided walking tour leads you straight to it.
Start at De Waag, the weighing house at the heart of Alkmaar's cheese trade, then follow the siege that turned the tide of the Eighty Years' War and gave the city its motto, "Victory begins at Alkmaar." Along the way you meet Cornelis Drebbel, the local inventor who built the first navigable submarine and tested it beneath the Thames. Stop at the statue of Truus Wijsmuller, who organised Kindertransports to rescue Jewish children. The Vismarkt used the canal to keep fish "fresh", with mixed results. The walk ends at Sonoy's Courtyard, a convent seized during the Reformation.
Perfect for history lovers and curious first-time visitors to the Netherlands. Install the VoiceMap app, then enter the ticket code from your confirmation email to download the tour and start walking.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
This tour starts at Waagplein 2. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.
The tour ends at Heeren van Sonoy.
Itinerary
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(Pass by)
You'll start at the 14th-century Waag, hearing how a guesthouse for the poor and sick became the place where Alkmaar's cheese was officially weighed and taxed. You'll see the building from outside only. Entry to any museum or exhibition inside is not included in this tour.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You'll pass by the Waagplein and hear how the cheese market worked in the 1600s, with its inspectors, hand-clap haggling and cheese carriers. If you're visiting between the first Friday of March and the last Friday of September, you may catch the traditional market in action. Watching from the square is free.
Admission ticket free -
Het Huis Met De Kogel Uit 1557 (Pass by)
You'll catch a glimpse of the cannonball set into the wall of this house, dated 1573, as your guide tells the story of the Spanish siege and a near miss. This is a private home, so entry is not possible.
Admission ticket free -
Statue Truus Wijsmuller-meijer (Pass by)
You'll pass by this unusually wide bridge, once a market square and the site of the town pillory, and see the statue honouring the woman known as the Mother of 1001 Children. The bridge and statue can be viewed for free.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You'll walk past Alkmaar's historic fish market with its 16th-century galleries, and spot the fisherman and fisherwoman statues on the canopy. Your guide shares how the fish were kept "fresh" in the canal. The fish market can be viewed from the street for free.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You'll pass by the synagogue, which stands on the site of inventor Cornelis Drebbel's home, and hear about his claim to the first navigable submarine. Entry to the synagogue is not included in this tour.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You'll walk through the park, once part of the city's defences during the Siege of 1573, and hear how the ramparts became an English-style landscape park. Entry to the park is free.
Admission ticket free -
Molen van Groot (Piet) (Pass by)
You'll pass by Alkmaar's last surviving city-wall windmill, built in stone in 1769, and hear about the fire risk millers faced. Entry to the mill is not included in this tour.
Admission ticket free -
Hofje van Splinter (1646) (Pass by)
You'll catch a glimpse of this almshouse, founded in 1646 for unmarried women who had fallen on hard times, and hear about its strict house rules. The court is a residential site and entry is not included in this tour.
Admission ticket free -
Grote Sint Laurenskerk (Pass by)
You'll pass by this late-Gothic church and hear how it replaced a succession of earlier churches on a site settled since around the year 900. Entry to the church, home to a famous Schnitger organ, may require a separate ticket and is not included in this tour.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You'll pass through Canadaplein, named for the Canadian soldiers who helped liberate the city in 1945, and hear about the museum on the square. Entry to the Stedelijk Museum requires a separate ticket and is not included in this tour.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You'll see the Brabantine Gothic and Dutch Classical façades of the City Hall, hear about its cells beneath the steps, and learn about the public executions once held behind it. Entry to the City Hall is not included in this tour.
Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The total tour time includes walking the route and passing by the attractions
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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