jmf314159

Does Alkmaar warrant a full day?

If not, is Alkmaar-Volendam-Marken viable via public transportation?

Thanks.

ronkala

We are leaving for Leiden three weeks from today. We decided to allocate a full day for those towns.

Buses depart every 15 to 30 minutes from outside A'dam central station.
Lines 110,112,and 116 stop in Volendam. 111 goes to Marken via Monnickdam, and 115 goes to Monnickdam.

From April through Oct. a passenger/bike ferry sails between Volendam and Marken. www.markenexpress.nl

hetismij

Train to Alkmaar from Amsterdam takes 35 minutes. To get to Volendam from Almaar you need to take the train to hoorn, the bus to Edam, then another bus to Volendam. Total travel time 1:15 hrs.
So no not really doable all in one day, unless you are leaving Alkmaar straight after the kaasmarkt, which woud be a pity.
It takes an hour by bus from Volendam to Marken, so the boat is quicker.
ronkala I assume you mean Monnickendam.

jmf314159

Thank you, hetismij.

ronkala

Hetismij,

I did.

global_guy

You won't need to devote a whole day to Alkmaar. It's nice, but not so large. A half day, or even a few hours should do it.

Travelnut

We're going to stay a night in Alkmaar this month. The plan is to stroll through any 'old town' area, see the Dom and town square... Rent bikes and ride around the polder area with about 5 windmills. Also, there is a windmill museum, although it isn't clear whether or not you go inside of it. There is a canal boat also. Friday morning, we'll hit the famous 'cheese market', maybe step into the Beer Museum, and then catch a train to Utrecht.

http://www.vvvalkmaar.nl/

http://www.goalkmaar.nl/uk/sports_&_...ental___0.html

http://www.biermuseum.nl/

http://www.molenvanpiet.nl/

global_guy

Travelnut; The Dutch page of the windmill says that you can't visit the "museum" meaning the inside of the windmill anymore.

If you are wanting to see windmills, you can see all four varieties and visit one of them at the Kinderdijk (which is a UNESCO site).

You could also visit one at Zaanse Schans, an open air museum where you can also see demonstrations of wooden shoe making and cheese making. Zaanse Schans is kinda touristy, but it's still a village where people live and despite the touristy vibe, it is nontheless, a good place to see those things.

Finally since you mentioned Utrecht, you could visit this windmill http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afbeeld...er_utrecht.jpg if you happen to be in town on Saturday afternoon when it opens to visitors.

If you want to visit the only brewery in Amsterdam that is still making beer, you could drop by Bierbrouwerij't IJ www.brouwerijhetij.nl. The pub there is located beside a windmill so you could really immerse yourself in Dutch culture

Travelnut

Global guy, thanks!

We won't be able to visit Kinderdijk this time, and went to Zaanse Schans before (it was fun).. but we WILL be in Utrecht all day Saturday, so I will look into your suggestion for that mill. We saw the brewery/mill in Amsterdam as we explored the area but didn't go inside there.

hetismij

Travelnut - you missed a treat. Absolutely the best beer brewed in Amsterdam comes from het Ij.

Travelnut

We'll be there for Koninginnedag, so maybe we can go that direction again..!