Jaap van 't Veen's photos with the keyword: Alkmaar

Wildemanshofje (the almshouses of Wildeman) is one of more than a hundred courtyards with almshouses in the Netherlands. It was named after the founder Gerrit Wildeman (1627-1702). As a shipowner and trader of colonial goods he was one of the wealthiest men in Alkmaar. By the end of his life his wife and two children had died. In his will he stipulated that his inheritance had to be spent on a new provenhuis : a free housing for elderly widows, who also got “money, butter and peat” four times a year. The start of construction was postponed until spring 1713 and took a year. It was supervised by two 'city carpenters. Wildemanshofje has a high gatehouse at the front with a regent's room on the top floor. Above the entrance a stone statue of a wild man refers to the generous benefactor “Wildeman” (PiP1). The four wings of the complex with a total of 24 houses surround a courtyard garden. There are two old wells where water used to be fetched for laundry. The lime trees in the symmetrically landscaped courtyard were planted in 1758 to protect the houses from the sun. Nowadays there still live women in the renovated and modernized houses. Unlike in the past, they now have to pay rent.

The Oudorperhout is the oldest polder in the Netherlands. The area of 42 hectares is bordered by the centuries-old cobbled road "Munnikenweg" and the “Hoornse Vaart” with its windmills . After the village of Oudorp was merged with the city of Alkmaar, part of the polder remained open and developed into a unique meadow landscape with many birds, ponds, ditches, reed beds and unique plants. In the Oudorperhout the remains of two castles built in 1290 are visible: “Nieuwburg” and “Middelburg”.

The Waag (Weigh House) is one of Alkmaar’s landmarks. The building has an interesting history dating back to the late 14th century. It was originally built as a chapel for the adjacent Holy Spirit hospital, where poor travelers could get free accommodation for three days and nights. In 1566 the Bishop of Haarlem gave permission to the Holy Spirit hospital to re-purpose the hospital building for weighing. In 1582, the weighing activities were moved to the larger Holy Spirit Chapel, which by then was no longer being used for divine services. The conversion of the chapel to the weighing house was completed in 1583. The choir of the chapel was removed and a richly decorated façade in Renaissance style with a finely worked gable was constructed. Between 1597 and 1603, the original tower was replaced by the much larger present Waagtoren . Since the 19th century the building has been embellished with a painting on volcanic rock, reflecting trade and industry. Nowadays the building houses the local tourist office and the Dutch Cheese Museum). The Waag - a national monument - is located at the Waagplein ; where from April till September the famous cheese market is held.

The Waag (Weigh House) is one of Alkmaar’s landmarks. The building has an interesting history dating back to the late 14th century. It was originally built as a chapel for the adjacent Holy Spirit hospital, where poor travelers could get free accommodation for three days and nights. In 1566 the Bishop of Haarlem gave permission to the Holy Spirit hospital to re-purpose the hospital building for weighing. In 1582, the weighing activities were moved to the larger Holy Spirit Chapel, which by then was no longer being used for divine services. The conversion of the chapel to the weighing house was completed in 1583. The choir of the chapel was removed and a richly decorated façade in Renaissance style with a finely worked gable was constructed. Between 1597 and 1603, the original tower was replaced by the much larger present Waagtoren . Since the 19th century the building has been embellished with a painting on volcanic rock, reflecting trade and industry. Nowadays the building houses the local tourist office and the Dutch Cheese Museum). The Waag - a national monument - is located at the Waagplein ; where from April till September the famous cheese market is held.

The kaasmarkt (cheese market) in Alkmaar is one of the most well known attractions in the Netherlands. Although very touristy is a visit to the market worthwhile. Almost 700 years ago, Alkmaar was already a cheese town. Based on historical records it appears that the city owned one pair of cheese scales in the year 1365, but this increased to four in 1612. Thee cheese carrier’s guild is first mentioned seven years later. However the year of 1593 is considered the start of the cheese market. Since the beginning it has always taken place on the Waagplein at the foot of the beautiful Waag (Weigh House). In the 17th century, cheese was traded on Fridays and Saturdays from May until All Saint’s Day. In the 18th century there were cheese markets on four days a week, which lasted until one o’clock at night. The square was gradually becoming too small for all the cheese. Markets were the economic engine in those days, so houses were sometimes demolished to increase market space. Nowadays the folkloric cheese market is a show put on for tourists from around the world, rather than an active center of trade in cheese. From April to September inclusive, one can find out how cheese is traded according to the century-old traditions every Friday from 10am.

The Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk (Great or St. Lawrence Church) is the largest medieval church building in the city centre of Alkmaar. It was already called Grote Kerk during its construction because of its size. The church is traditionally the largest and tallest church building in Alkmaar and has always been praised as the city's jewel. Originally, the building was dedicated to Saint Lawrence. The Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk , dates back to the 10th century. Originally there was a smaller wooden church, which was destroyed by fire in the 11th century. The same happened with a next church. At the end of the 15th century it was decided to build a larger church. The church building was designed by architect Anthonius Kelderman (Mechelen, Belgium) in the style of the Brabant Gothic. The construction took place between 1470 and 1511. Originally it was a Catholic church, but after the Reformation in 1573 it became the centre of Protestant worship. Alkmaar's Grote Kerk is renowned for its organs. The most famous is the little choir organ from 1511. The larger organ is one of the most famous, significant and beautiful organs in the world. It was built by Jacobus Caltus van Hagerbeer, finished in 1645 (PiP4). Another highlight of the interior is the triptych by Pauline Bakker (PiP5). This was made in 2004 for the 750th anniversary of Alkmaar, with scenes from its history. Form and size are derived from the famous triptych (1542) by Maerten van Heemskerk, which was sold to Sweden in 1581. Since 1996 the building has no religious function any longer. Currently the church is owned by a foundation ( Stichting tot Behoud van Monumentale Kerken in Alkmaar ). The building is a museum (free of charge) with attention to the history of the church and is also used for weddings, concerts and other cultural activities.

De Molen van Piet (or officially “De Groot”) is located in the city centre of Alkmaar on the top of the former rampart, towering above the surrounding urban development. This windmill with a stage was built in 1769 and from then on served as a corn mill for ages. In the year of 1874 the mill is owned by miller S. de Groot. Ten years later mill "De Groot" is bought by C. Piet, who came from Aalsmeer and was a miller in Sloten. He had a house made at the lower floors of the mill. The mill's surname remained popularly associated with the mill and the old name “De Groot” is hardly used. Nowadays the fourth generation of the Piet family still lives in the mill. The mill is now owned by the municipality, but is still inhabited and milled - every now and then - by a member of the Piet family. Only during special occasions the mill can be visited.

The (old) town hall is another landmark of Alkmaar, which was built in Gothic style between 1509 and 1520. The stunningly striped façade of the town hall boasts a flight of steps flanked by an elegant octagonal tower, streaked with white limestone. Lions stand guard at the entrance bearing the Alkmaar shield of arms. Various buildings were added in the following centuries, including a Dutch Classicist wing in 1694. The building and the tower were restored in 1911-1913and the present façade is in fact a copy of the original. After the construction of the new city office, the (old) town hall now houses the administrative functions, wedding room and fraction rooms. Being located in the Langestraat - main shopping street of Alkmaar – don’t be surprised if a newly-married bridal couple is coming down the stairs.

Wildemanshofje is one of more than a hundred courtyards with almshouses in the Netherlands. It was named after the founder Gerrit Wildeman (1627-1702). As a shipowner and trader of colonial goods he was one of the wealthiest men in Alkmaar. By the end of his life his wife and two children had died. In his will he stipulated that his inheritance had to be spent on a new provenhuis : a free housing for elderly widows, who also got “money, butter and peat” four times a year. The start of construction was postponed until spring 1713 and took a year. It was supervised by two 'city carpenters. Wildemanshofje has a high gatehouse at the front with a regent's room on the top floor. The four wings of the complex with a total of 24 houses surround a courtyard garden. There are two old wells where water used to be fetched for laundry. The lime trees in the symmetrically landscaped courtyard were planted in 1758 to protect the houses from the sun. Nowadays there still live women in the renovated and modernized houses. Unlike in the past, they now have to pay rent.