The 2026 cheese market season has ended. The last Alkmaar market was on Friday 25 September. The markets return in spring 2027. Exact 2027 dates are usually published early in the year, and we will add them here. This was the 2026 schedule, which gives a good idea of what to expect:
| Market | Day | 2026 season | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alkmaar | Friday | 27 March to 25 September | 10:00 to 13:00 |
| Alkmaar evening market | Tuesday | July and August | 19:00 to 21:00 |
| Gouda | Thursday | 2 April to 27 August | 10:00 to 12:30 |
| Edam | Wednesday | 1 July to 19 August | 10:30 to 12:30 |
| Woerden | Saturday | 18 April to 22 August | 11:00 to 12:30 |
Visiting outside the season? Our cheese tasting in a historic Amsterdam canal house runs all year.
Last updated: 28 September 2026
The Netherlands and cheese have been linked for centuries, but to truly understand this heritage, you need to visit a traditional cheese market. These markets are not just places to buy food. They are living performances of history, ritual, and community life, preserved for centuries and still proudly celebrated today.
Four traditional markets you can visit, spring to early autumn. All free to attend.
Long before Dutch cheese became an international export, farmers travelled by horse and boat to local town squares to trade their wheels of cheese directly with merchants. These gatherings evolved into the famous Dutch cheese markets that still take place today.
What makes these markets special is that they are not simple food markets. They are carefully preserved historical traditions where old trading customs, ceremonial dress, and community rituals are recreated exactly as they were hundreds of years ago. Visiting one feels less like shopping and more like stepping into the Dutch Golden Age.
Prefer to taste rather than travel? You can also explore Dutch cheese in the city itself on our expert-led Amsterdam cheese tasting, a small-group masterclass in a historic canal house where you sample five quality cheeses well beyond Gouda and Edam.
Most Dutch cheese markets run between spring and early autumn. In 2026: Alkmaar every Friday 10am-1pm (27 Mar-25 Sep) and Tuesday evenings 7pm-9pm (7 Jul-25 Aug); Gouda every Thursday 10am-12:30pm (2 Apr-27 Aug); Edam every Wednesday 10:30am-12:30pm (1 Jul-19 Aug); Woerden every Saturday 11am-12:30pm (18 Apr-22 Aug).
No, all Dutch cheese markets are free to attend.
Although the markets are now largely cultural events, many traditions are authentic and carefully preserved. In Woerden, real cheese trading still takes place between local farmers and merchants.
Visitors watch cheese porters carry large wheels on wooden barrows, traders negotiate using hand-clapping rituals, and cheeses are weighed in historic weighing houses. Many markets also include live music, food stalls, and craft demonstrations.
Alkmaar is generally considered the most famous, known for its large-scale demonstrations and historic cheese carriers guild. Gouda is also internationally well known.
Yes. All major markets have stalls where visitors can sample and purchase Dutch cheeses including aged Gouda, Edam, smoked cheeses, and flavoured varieties.
Alkmaar is lively and theatrical, Gouda is historic and food-focused, Edam is smaller and traditional, and Woerden offers the most authentic local atmosphere with real cheese trading.
