On this trip to The Netherlands I stayed well to the West of the country. I stayed in Womerveer which is northish of Amsterdam and travelled as far North as Alkmaar and as far west as Haarlem.
Until you have been to Holland it is hard to fully comprehend the national appreciation for two things: chocolate and cheese. So Brenda planned in a day for us to see the cheese show and market in Alkmaar. You may laugh a little but honestly how could a country with a city named Gouda ( pronounced howda with a guttural at the front) not be fully dedicated to cheese?
Alkmaar is a beautiful old world city dedicated to cheese!
The most prominent building in the square is the cheese museum
I bet there were 500 people gathered for the cheese show
The man in the orange heart is “The Cheese Father”. Honorary leader of the cheese show!
We arrived a half hour early for the cheese show and it’s a good thing we did. By the time the show started (which by the way is translated from Dutch into English, German and French) people were standing 4 or 5 deep. Some lady used Brenda’s head as a tripod to take pictures!
The Cheese Maidens!
The Cheese Inspectors inspect the cheese to make sure it is mature. No really that is the job. That and giving out samples. So yummy!
The Cheese Racers load their cheese sleds with Gouda and take it to the weighing house.
The Cheese Judge weighs and records the cheese
The Cheese Racers then take the cheese off of the scale and run it wagons to be taken to market.
I am assuming that at the end of the race the team which clears the most cheese wins. But you cannot prove this by me. We left after 45 minutes of cheese racing. There was coffee to drink, shopping to shop and pictures to take.
An open air cafe on a cool and windy day
Back street shops, Alkmaar
Brenda on the canal bridge, Alkmaar
Cheese Museum in background
Alkmaar
Alkmaar
Alkmaar is reachable from Wormerveer by a forty-five minute train ride. If you go make sure you hit the city on market day. Take in the cheese show. Drink a capuccino.Take in a nice restaraunt and shop the artist’s market which I thought kept pace with the art markets on Museumplein in Amsterdam. What a great day! Thanks Sis!
Reinventing the We'll 
My wife’s family is from the hague (den hague) and my wife LOVES Gouda. With an emphasis on LOVES. Thanks for the pictures…I am not showing her the cheese pics!!!!! very nice…thanks for keeping us apprised pastor J.
You are welcome! The cheese is amazing! Had it every morning for breakfast.
I loved seeing and hearing about all of this! Your sense of humor makes it all the better! haha! God bless you and thanks for taking us along for the trip!
You are welcome!
It looks like you had a great time with Brenda. The capuccino looks like it tasted really good. Thanks for blessing us with your journey to The Netherlands.
Oh I have a better picture of cappucino coming up!
I told you we needed to see the cheese show! People scoff…but cheese is a powerful thing! 🙂 I had a great time too! Glad I got to share a bit of my world with ya! Love ya…You Lil sis 🙂
It is powerful!
Thanks for the virtual tour. I wonder how I could get a sister there – or somewhere . . .
I might be able to arrange for you to borrow mine for a week or so. I’ll check! 🙂
Pastor J, your pictures came out great! 🙂 All of the makings of an outstanding day! I must say, that backstreet shopping area looked very alluring! 🙂 Before becoming ill, I was a bit of a shopaholic, just a bit mind you, LOL! God bless you!
Paulette
Thanks Paulette! Shopping is a big deal in Holland! Little shops abound!