View source for Alkmaar

{{short description|City and municipality in North Holland, Netherlands}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
<!-- Name and transliteration -->| name               = Alkmaar
| settlement_type    = [[List of cities in the Netherlands by province|City]] and [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|municipality]]
<!-- Images, nickname, motto -->| image_skyline      = Alkmaar - Bierkade zaterdagochtend.jpg
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = ''De Bierkade''
| image_flag         = Alkmaar Flag.svg
| flag_size          = 100x67px
| flag_alt           = 
| image_shield       = Alkmaar wapen HRvA.svg
| shield_size        = 100x80px
| shield_alt         = <!-- Maps, coordinates -->
| image_map          = Map - NL - Municipality code 0361 (2019).svg
| map_alt            = Highlighted position of Alkmaar in a municipal map of North Holland
| map_caption        = Location in North Holland
| pushpin_map        = Netherlands#Europe
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the Netherlands##Location within Europe
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| coordinates        = {{coord|52|38|N|4|45|E|region:NL|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = [[Netherlands]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of the Netherlands|Province]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[North Holland]]
| government_footnotes = <ref name="mayor_now">{{cite web
 |url = http://www.alkmaar.nl/eCache/21826/Samenstelling_college_en_portefeuille
 |title = College van burgemeester en wethouders
 |trans-title = Board of mayor and aldermen
 |language = nl
 |publisher = Gemeente Alkmaar
 |access-date = 19 February 2014
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140225003753/http://www.alkmaar.nl/eCache/21826/Samenstelling_college_en_portefeuille
 |archive-date = 25 February 2014
 |url-status = dead
 }}</ref>
| governing_body     = [[Municipal council (Netherlands)|Municipal council]]
| leader_party       = 
| leader_title       = [[Burgemeester|Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Anja Schouten
<!-- Geographic information -->| unit_pref          = Metric
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
<!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->| area_footnotes     = <ref>{{Dutch municipality total area|dataref}}</ref>
<!-- square kilometers -->| area_total_km2     = {{Dutch municipality total area|Alkmaar}}
| area_land_km2      = {{Dutch municipality land area|Alkmaar}}
| area_water_km2     = {{Dutch municipality water area|Alkmaar}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name="AHN">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool 
 |title=Postcodetool for 1815AG 
 |language=nl 
 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> 
 |work=Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland 
 |publisher=Het Waterschapshuis 
 |access-date=19 February 2014 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053543/http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool 
 |archive-date=21 September 2013 
}}</ref>
| elevation_m        = 1
| elevation_max_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_max_m    = 
| elevation_min_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_min_m    = <!-- Population, demographics -->
| population_footnotes = <ref name="pop">{{cite web|date=4 January 2023|title=Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand|url=https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/dataset/37230NED/table|access-date=17 January 2023|website=CBS Netherlands|language=nl}}</ref>
| population_total   = 111,766
| population_as_of   = November 2022
| population_density_km2 = 1012 <!-- For automatic calculation: auto-->
| population_demonym = Alkmaarder <br /> (Informal) Kaaskop
<!-- Other information -->| timezone           = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset         = +1
| timezone_DST       = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST     = +2
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal codes in the Netherlands|Postcode]]
| postal_code        = 1800–1831
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|Area code]]
| area_code          = 072
| website            = {{URL|1=http://www.alkmaar.nl}}
| footnotes          = 
}}
[[File:Alkmaar-plaats-OpenTopo.jpg|250px|thumb|''Topographic map of Alkmaar, Sept. 2014'']]
'''Alkmaar''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈɑl(ə)kmaːr|-|Nl-Alkmaar.ogg}}) is a [[List of cities in the Netherlands by province|city]] and [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|municipality]] in the [[Netherlands]], located in the [[Provinces of the Netherlands|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 111,766 as of 2023.<ref name="pop" />

==History==

The earliest mention of the name Alkmaar is in a 10th-century document. As the village grew into a town, it was granted [[City rights in the Netherlands|city rights]] in 1254. The oldest part of Alkmaar lies on an ancient sand bank a couple of meters (yards) above the surrounding region; it afforded some protection from [[inundation]] during [[medieval]] times. Its vicinage consists of some of the [[Achtermeer|oldest]] [[polders]] in existence. Older spellings include '''Alckmar'''.<ref>Amsterdam Museum, Amsterdam</ref>

On 24 June 1572, after the [[Geuzen]] captured the town, five [[Franciscans]] from Alkmaar were taken to [[Enkhuizen]] and hanged, becoming the [[martyrs of Alkmaar]].

===Siege of Alkmaar===
In 1573 the city underwent a [[Siege of Alkmaar|siege]] by Spanish forces under the leadership of [[Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo, 4th Duke of Alba|Don Fadrique]], son of the [[Duke of Alva]]. The citizens sent urgent messages for help to the [[Prince of Orange]]; he responded by promising to open the floodgates of the dykes and flood the region if the need arose, which despite the protestations of the peasantry, fearful for their harvest, he proceeded to do.

Some of his dispatches fell into the hands of Don Fadrique, and, with the waters beginning to rise, the Spaniards raised the siege and fled.  It was a turning point in the [[Eighty Years War]] and gave rise to the expression ''Bij Alkmaar begint de victorie'' ("Victory begins at Alkmaar"). The event is still celebrated every year in Alkmaar on 8 October, the day the siege ended.

===Since the French Revolutionary Wars===
In 1799, during the [[French Revolutionary Wars]], an Anglo-Russian expeditionary force captured the city but was ultimately defeated in the [[Battle of Castricum]]. After that battle, on 18 October 1799, the two opposing sides held the [[Convention of Alkmaar]] which met to determine the fate of the defeated Anglo-Russian force. The French victory was commemorated on the [[Arc de Triomphe]] in [[Paris]] as "Alkmaer".

The [[Noordhollandsch Kanaal|North Holland Canal]], opened in 1824, was dug through Alkmaar. In 1865 and 1867 the railways between Alkmaar and Den Helder and between Alkmaar and Haarlem were built respectively.

In the second half of the 20th century, Alkmaar expanded quickly with development of new neighbourhoods. On 1 October 1972, the town of Oudorp and the southern portions of Koedijk and Sint Pancras were added to the municipality of Alkmaar.<ref>{{Repertorium Nederlandse Gemeenten}}</ref>

==Administrative divisions==
{{Historical populations
|title       = Historical population
|align       = right
|cols        = 
|pop_name    = 
|percentages = pagr
|footnote    = 
|source      = {{Harvnb|Lourens|Lucassen|1997|pp=54–55}}
|1398|3800
|1514|4179
|1622|12417
|1632|13200
|1660|13650
|1732|12500
|1795|7514
}}
The municipality of Alkmaar historically consists of the following cities, towns, villages and districts: Alkmaar, Bergermeer, Daalmeer, De Hoef, De Horn, De Nollen, Het Rak, Huiswaard, [[Koedijk]] (southeastern part), Overdie, [[Oudorp]] and Omval. On 1 January 2015 the municipalities of [[Graft-De Rijp]] and [[Schermer]] were merged into Alkmaar. The historical village of [[De Rijp]] is thus since a part of Alkmaar.

These once separate villages are now all linked together by the suburban sprawl of buildings that arose between the late 1970s and early 1990s. During this time, the population of Alkmaar almost doubled.

==Local government==
The municipal council of Alkmaar consists of 39 seats, which are divided as follows after the 2022 elections:<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-03-16 |title=Definitieve uitslag Gemeenteraadsverkiezingen 2022 - gemeente Alkmaar |url=https://verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/GR20220316/731123 |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=Kiesraad Databank Verkiezingsuitslagen}}</ref>

* [[Democrats 66|D66]] – 5 seats
* [[Independent Party of Alkmaar|OPA]] – 5 seats
* [[GroenLinks]] – 5 seats
* BAS – 4 seats
* [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]] – 4 seats
* [[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PvdA]] – 3 seats
* [[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]] – 3 seats
* Leefbaar Alkmaar – 3 seats
* [[Party for the Animals|Partij voor de Dieren]] – 2 seats
* Senior's Party of Alkmaar (Senioren Partij Alkmaar) – 2 seats
* [[Forum for Democracy|FvD]] – 1 seat
* [[Socialist Party (Netherlands)|SP]] – 1 seat
* [[Christian Union (Netherlands)|ChristenUnie]] - 1 seat

==Transport==
[[File:Alkmaar - Luttik Oudorp lente.jpg|thumb|[[City center]]]]
[[File:Alkmaar.jpg|thumb|Cheese market]]
[[File:North gable of the Beer Museum in Alkmaar.jpg|thumb|North gable of the Beer Museum in Alkmaar]]
The [[A9 motorway (Netherlands)|A9 motorway]] runs from [[Amsterdam]] to Alkmaar, then continues on to [[Den Helder]] as the N9.

There are direct trains to [[Den Helder]], [[Hoorn]], [[Zaandam]], [[Amsterdam]], [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]], [[Ede, Netherlands|Ede]], [[Arnhem]], [[Nijmegen]], [['s-Hertogenbosch]], [[Eindhoven]], [[Maastricht]] and [[Haarlem]]. For exact details see [[Alkmaar railway station]].

Alkmaar has two railway stations:

* [[Alkmaar railway station|Alkmaar]]
* [[Alkmaar Noord railway station|Alkmaar Noord]]

The waterway [[Noordhollandsch Kanaal]], which opened in 1824, runs through Alkmaar. {{As of|2017}}. it can be crossed (among other ways) using two of the five operating [[vlotbruggen]], Koedijkervlotbrug and Rekervlotbrug.

Air travel is served by the nearest [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Schiphol Airport]] which is approximately 22 km south of Alkmaar. [[Nederlandse Spoorwegen|NS]] operates direct train services between Alkmaar and Schiphol.

==Main sights==
Alkmaar has many medieval buildings that are still intact, most notably the tall tower of the [[Grote or Sint-Laurenskerk (Alkmaar)|Grote or Sint-Laurenskerk]], where many people from Alkmaar hold wedding ceremonies. The other main attraction, especially in the summer months, is Alkmaar's cheese market at the Waagplein, one of the country's most popular tourist attractions.  The cheese market traditionally takes place from the first Friday in April through the first Friday in September. Every Friday morning (10:00–12:30) the Waagplein is the backdrop for this traditional cheese market. After the old-fashioned way of the hand clap, traders and carriers will weigh the cheeses. It is one of only four traditional [[Dutch cheese markets]] still in existence. The traditional fare of this cheese market is those cheeses made in the local area, as opposed to the well-known brands of Dutch cheeses, including the [[Edam cheese|Edam]] and [[Gouda cheese]]s. It is not actually possible to buy cheese at the market itself, which is really only a demonstration of how this merchants' market operated in times gone by.  However, the demonstration, which takes place in front of the medieval weighing house, is surrounded by many specialized stalls where it is possible to buy all kinds of cheese (and non-cheese) related products. The [[weigh house|Waag]] is also home to the local tourist office and a cheese museum. Alkmaar has 399 registered [[rijksmonument]]s, of which most are situated along the city's old canals.<ref>[[:nl:Lijst van rijksmonumenten in Alkmaar]].</ref>

Alkmaar has two large theatres and a big cinema (which was originally two cinemas). A [[red light district]] is situated at the [[Achterdam]], and Alkmaar has a nightlife scene as well which takes place in the pubs in front of the cheesemarket. Every year, at the end of May Alkmaar hosts the four-day event Alkmaar Pride, which has a [[pride parade|canal pride parade]] on Saturday.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alkmaarpride.nl/ |title=Home |website=alkmaarpride.nl}}</ref>

===Museums===
* Beatles Museum – dedicated to [[The Beatles]], as [[John Lennon]]'s first guitar was made in Alkmaar
* Holland Cheese Museum – located in the historic [[weigh house]]
* National Beer Museum "De Boom"
* Op ArtMuseum - closed since 2014
* [[Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar|City Museum Alkmaar]]  – for history of the city

==Sports==
[[File:AFAS stadion.jpg|thumb|left|[[AFAS Stadion]]]]
Alkmaar is home to the professional [[football (soccer)|football]] team [[AZ Alkmaar|AZ]] (Alkmaar Zaanstreek). In 2006, the club moved to a new 17,000 capacity stadium, the DSB Stadion, now named the [[AFAS Stadion]]. In [[2008–09 Eredivisie|2008–2009]], AZ won the [[Eredivisie]], the Dutch football league. It was the second league title for the club after the Eredivisie in 1980/81 with only one league defeat. Notable coaches include former [[FC Barcelona]] coach [[Ronald Koeman]], and [[Netherlands national football team]] coach [[Louis van Gaal]].

The city also has a [[velodrome]] where the Dutch national [[track cycling]] championships are held every year. The city hosted the [[2019 European Road Championships]].

== Notable residents ==
=== Public thinking & public service ===
[[File:Cornelis van der Lijn.jpg|140px|thumb|Cornelis van der Lijn, ca.1650]]
[[File:Patrick Cammaert.jpg|140px|thumb|Patrick Cammaert, 2001]]
* [[Isaac Dorislaus]] (1595–1649), a Dutch Calvinist historian and lawyer <ref>{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Dorislaus,_Isaac |volume= 08 |short=x}}</ref> 
* [[Jan Janse de Weltevree]] (1595 in De Rijp – ??), a Dutch sailor, the first Dutchman to visit [[Korea]]
* [[Cornelis van der Lijn]] (1608–1679), [[Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies]] 1646-1650 and elected Mayor of Alkmaar in 1668
* [[Bernard Nieuwentyt]] (1654 in West-Graftdijk – 1718), a Dutch philosopher, mathematician, physician and magistrate
* [[Anna Smitshuizen]] (1751–1775), the victim of a [[cause célèbre]] murder
* [[Kees Boeke]] (1884–1966), a Dutch reformist educator, Quaker missionary and pacifist
* [[Nicolette Bruining]] (1886–1963), a Dutch theologian, teacher and humanitarian in WWII
* [[Geertruida Wijsmuller-Meijer]] (1896–1978), a resistance fighter, saved Jewish children
* [[Cornelis Berkhouwer]] (1919–1992), politician, [[President of the European Parliament]] 1973-1975
* [[Rudi Vis]] (1941–2010), British Labour politician, [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]] 1997 to 2010
* [[Jaap Pop]] (born 1941), a former Dutch politician, Mayor of Alkmaar 1988-1995
* [[Sybilla Dekker]] (born 1942), a retired Dutch politician and businesswoman
* [[Ronald Bandell]] (1946–2015), a Dutch civil servant, politician and Mayor of Alkmaar 1995–2000 
* [[Jos Punt]] (born 1946), bishop in the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Haarlem-Amsterdam]]
* [[Patrick Cammaert]] (born 1950), retired Dutch general and commander of UN peacekeeping missions
*[[Troy Parrott]] (born 2002), Irish footballer

=== The arts ===
[[File:Bosboom-Toussaint August Falise Kennemerstraatweg Alkmaar.JPG|140px|thumb|Bust of ''A.L.G. Bosboom-Toussaint'' in Alkmaar]]
[[File:Roderick Teerink in Japan.jpg|140px|thumb|Roderick Teerink, 2006]]
[[File:Jan Wils.JPG|140px|thumb|Jan Wils, 1928]]
* [[Maria Tesselschade Roemers Visscher]] (1594–1649), [[poet]] and [[Engraving|engraver]]
* [[Pieter van Schaeyenborgh]] (1600–1657), painter known for pictures of fish; worked in Alkmaar from 1635
* brothers [[Caesar van Everdingen]] (1616/7-1678) & [[Allaert van Everdingen]] (1621–1675) <ref>{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Everdingen,_Allart_van |volume= 10 |short=x}}</ref> [[Dutch Golden Age]] painters
* [[Emanuel de Witte]] (1617–1692), a Dutch perspective painter of genre paintings
* [[Willem de Fesch]] (1687–1761), a virtuoso Dutch [[violone]] player and composer
* [[Anna Louisa Geertruida Bosboom-Toussaint|Geertruida Bosboom-Toussaint]] (1812–1886) a Dutch novelist <ref>{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Bosboom-Toussaint,_Anna_Louisa_Geertruida |volume= 04 |short=x}}</ref>
* [[Cécile de Jong van Beek en Donk]] (1866–1944) a Dutch feminist writer
* [[Dirk Smorenberg]] (1883–1960), a Dutch [[Art Deco]] painter
* [[Jan Wils]] (1891–1972), a Dutch architect and founding member of the [[De Stijl]] movement
* [[Jan Gerrit van Gelder]] (1903–1980), a Dutch art historian
* [[Ans Wortel]] (1929–1996), a Dutch painter, poet and writer
* [[Rudi Carrell]] (1934–2006), entertainer, hosted his own TV show <ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0140167/  IMDb Database] retrieved 16 February 2020</ref>
* [[Dan van der Vat]] (1939–2019), a journalist, writer and military historian
* [[Angela Groothuizen]] (born 1959), a Dutch singer, artist and TV personality <ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0343218/   IMDb Database] retrieved 16 February 2020</ref>
* [[Karin Bloemen]] (born 1960) is a Dutch actress and singer <ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0088812/  IMDb Database] retrieved 16 February 2020</ref>
* [[Lorena Kloosterboer]] (born 1962), a Dutch-Argentine artist who paints using [[trompe-l'œil]]
* [[Joost Zwagerman]] (1963–2015), a Dutch writer, poet and essayist <ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1432762/   IMDb Database] retrieved 16 February 2020</ref>
* [[Marco Borsato]] (born 1966), a Dutch singer <ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0097441/   IMDb Database] retrieved 16 February 2020</ref>
* [[Edwin Brienen]] (born 1971), a Dutch film director, actor, producer and journalist <ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0108889/   IMDb Database] retrieved 16 February 2020</ref>
* [[Hellen van Meene]] (born 1972), a Dutch photographer known for her portraits
* [[Tom Six]] (born 1973), a Dutch horror filmmaker, writer and actor <ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1519353/  IMDb Database] retrieved 16 February 2020</ref>
* [[:es:Roderick Teerink|Roderick Teerink]] (born 1976), a Dutch-Argentine actor and music producer <ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2830082/  IMDb Database] retrieved 13 April 2021</ref>
* [[Sabine Marcelis]] (born 1985), a Dutch-New Zealander artist and designer
* [[Melissa Venema]] (born 1995), a Dutch trumpet player

=== Science & business ===
[[File:PietervanForeest.JPG|140px|thumb|Pieter van Foreest, ca.1590]]
* [[Petrus Forestus]] (1521–1597), a prominent [[physician]] of the [[Dutch Republic]] 
* [[Adriaan Anthonisz]] (1527–1607), a mathematician, surveyor, cartographer, military engineer and [[burgomaster]] of Alkmaar
* [[Willem Blaeu]] (1571–1638), a Dutch cartographer, atlas maker and publisher
* [[Adriaan Metius]] (1571–1635), a Dutch [[geometer]] and [[astronomer]] 
* [[Cornelis Drebbel]] (1572–1633), a Dutch engineer, in 1620 built the first navigable submarine 
* [[Jan Leeghwater]] (1575 in De Rijp – 1650), a Dutch architect, mill builder and hydraulic engineer
* [[Joan Blaeu]] (1598–1673), a Dutch cartographer
* [[Adriaan Reland]] (1676 in De Rijp – 1718), a Dutch Orientalist scholar and cartographer
* [[Hendrik Willem Bakhuis Roozeboom]] (1854–1907), a Dutch chemist who studied [[phase behaviour]] in [[physical chemistry]]
* [[Alfred Peet]] (1920–2007), founder of American coffee retailer [[Peet's Coffee & Tea]]
* [[Jacob Gelt Dekker]] (1948 in Oterleek– 2019), a Dutch businessman, philanthropist and writer

=== Sport ===
[[File:Maarten van der Weijden (2008-08-25).jpg|140px|thumb|Maarten van der Weijden, 2008]]
[[File:Dewi-Claire Schreefel.JPG|140px|thumb|Dewi Claire Schreefel, 2012]]
* [[Harm Ottenbros]] (born 1943), a former Dutch road bicycle racer, 1969 world champion
* [[Dick Quax]] (1948–2018), a Dutch-born New Zealand long-distance runner
* [[Hans Nijman]] (1959–2014), a Dutch former mixed martial artist and professional wrestler
* [[Richard Goulooze]] (born 1967), a Dutch former professional footballer with 351 club caps
* [[Michel Vonk]] (born 1968), a Dutch former professional footballer with 342 club caps
* [[Jakko Jan Leeuwangh]] (born 1972), a former speed skater
* [[Macha van der Vaart]] (born 1972), a Dutch field hockey player, team bronze and silver medallist at the [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000]] and [[2004 Summer Olympics]] 
* [[Steven de Jongh]] (born 1973), a Dutch former road bicycle racer
* brothers [[Yuri Cornelisse]] (born 1975) & [[Tim Cornelisse]] (born 1978), Dutch retired footballers with 371 and 445 club caps
* [[Jochem Verberne]] (born 1978), rower, team silver medallist in the [[2000 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Maarten van der Weijden]] (born 1981), a Dutch long distance and marathon swimmer; [[Dutch Sportsman of the year]] 2008
* [[Theo Bos]] (born 1983), a Dutch road and track cyclist
* [[Wesley Harms]] (born 1984), a Dutch professional darts player
* [[Gago Drago]] (born 1985), an Armenian-Dutch welterweight kickboxer
* [[Dewi Claire Schreefel]] (born 1985), a Dutch female professional golfer on the [[LPGA Tour]] 
* [[Aleister Black|Tom Büdgen]] (born 1985), a Dutch professional wrestler who previously worked in [[WWE]], currently signed to [[All Elite Wrestling]] under the ring name Malakai Black
* [[Yvonne Hak]] (born 1986), a Dutch middle-distance runner, won gold at the [[2010 European Athletics Championships]]
* [[Nycke Groot]] (born 1988), a Dutch handball player, 141 caps with the [[Netherlands women's national handball team|women's national team]]
* [[Joyce Sombroek]] (born 1990), a Dutch field hockey goalkeeper, team gold and silver medallist at the [[2012 Summer Olympics|2012]] and [[2016 Summer Olympics]] 
* [[Fabian Holland (rugby union)|Fabian Holland]] (born 2002), a Dutch born rugby player with the New Zealand rugby team, All Blacks 
* [[Indy Dontje]] (born 1992), a Dutch racing driver

==Twin towns—sister cities==
[[File:Old Alkmaar plaque, Amsterdam Museum.jpg|thumb|165px|Old Alkmaar plaque, Amsterdam Museum]]
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in the Netherlands}}

Alkmaar is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
* {{flagicon|UK}} [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]], [[United Kingdom]]<ref name="Bath twinnings">{{cite web|url=http://www.thecityofbath.co.uk/twinning-associations |title=Bath's Twinning Associations |access-date=15 July 2013 |work=The Mayor of Bath |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517074103/http://www.thecityofbath.co.uk/twinning-associations |archive-date=17 May 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref name="twinning">{{cite web|url=http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/leisureandculture/tourismandtravel/Twinning/ |title=Town Twinning |access-date=12 December 2007 |work=Bath and North East Somerset Council | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20071027142443/http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/leisureandculture/tourismandtravel/Twinning/|archive-date = 27 October 2007}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|TUR}} [[Bergama]], [[Turkey]]
* {{flagicon|GER}} [[Darmstadt]], [[Germany]], since 1958 <ref name="Darmstadt twinnings">{{cite web|url=http://www.darmstadt.de/standort/staedtepartnerschaften-und-internationales/index.htm|title=Städtepartnerschaften und Internationales|access-date=26 July 2013|work=Büro für Städtepartnerschaften und internationale Beziehungen|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723212417/http://www.darmstadt.de/standort/staedtepartnerschaften-und-internationales/index.htm|archive-date=23 July 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
||
* {{flagicon|HUN}} [[Tata, Hungary]]
* {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Troyes]], [[France]]
|}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Rechtestraat, De Rijp, Netherlands - panoramio (23).jpg|De Rijp
File:Alkmaar, toren van het stadhuis RM7282 foto5 2014-12-26 11.41.jpg|Townhall tower
File:Kennemerstraatweg 118-126, Alkmaar.jpg|''Kennemerstraatweg''
File:Alkmaar, de Mient bij het Biermuseum RM7221 foto3 2014-12-26 11.24.jpg|''De Mient'' near the Biermuseum
File:De Rijp Panorama 2.JPG|''Grote Dam''
File:Alkmaar, straatzicht De Laat met de voormalige Domuskerk foto7 2014-12-26 11.52.jpg|View to a street: ''De Laat'' with its former church
File:Cheesemuseum in the Alkmaar Waagbuilding 1582 - panoramio.jpg|Weighing house (''Waag'') and cheese museum
</gallery>

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

===Literature===
* {{cite book |last1=Lourens |first1=Piet |last2=Lucassen |first2=Jan |title=Inwonertallen van Nederlandse steden ca. 1300–1800 |year=1997 |place=Amsterdam |publisher=NEHA |isbn=9057420082 }}

==External links==
* {{commons category-inline}}
* {{Wikivoyage-inline}}
* {{cite EB1911|wstitle=Alkmaar |volume= 01 |short= x}}
* {{oweb|http://www.alkmaar.nl}} – City of Alkmaar

{{Geographic location
 | Centre    = Alkmaar
 | North     = [[Dijk en Waard]]
 | Northeast = [[Koggenland]]
 | East      = [[Purmerend]]
 | Southeast = [[Wormerland]]
 | South     = [[Zaanstad]]
 | Southwest = [[Uitgeest]]
 | West      = [[Heiloo]]<br />[[Castricum]]
 | Northwest = [[Bergen, North Holland|Bergen]]
}}
{{Dutch municipality Alkmaar}}
{{North Holland Province}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Alkmaar| ]]
[[Category:Cities in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Municipalities of North Holland]]
[[Category:Populated places in North Holland]]