7 days...driving through Holland (6)

Five days have passed quickly. Today is the sixth day, and we need to set off early. Although the city we are going to today, Alkmaar, is only 40km away, it is located north of Amsterdam and is famous for its cheese market on Saturdays. Famous cheeses from the city and other parts of the country will be auctioned at the central market. The auction is a serious event and also a show for tourists. Naturally, there will be a lot of people, and the auction will end before noon, so we need to hurry to catch it.

On the way back, before entering Amsterdam, I drove through the city of Haarlem, which is only 15 km from Amsterdam.

In the figure, A represents ALKMAAR and B represents HAARLEM.

In an effort to reach the market before it opened, I opted to drive straight there without making any stops. This allowed me to arrive early and have time to explore the city. However, my plans were slightly hampered by a light drizzle that began to fall. While not heavy, it was enough to make walking around the city somewhat inconvenient.

Stopping by bakeries to sample treats along the way.

He arrived at the town square, the venue for the cheese auction, just before the appointed time. The rain had begun to subside, but the cheeses were still covered with tarpaulins.

After a while, the auction began amidst a light drizzle. The atmosphere was quite enjoyable, with the foreigners laughing throughout. Hehe, as for me, I understood some things but not others.

"Not a grand auction, but the atmosphere of its long history is wonderful… I've never seen anything like it before… It was worth the drive to see it."

The auction seemed to end a bit early that day, probably due to the light drizzle.

Following the auction, there was time to explore the city, which, like many others, was adorned with beautiful rivers and canals. I particularly enjoyed strolling along the riverbank, taking in the sights. This city has left a lasting impression on me.

Unbeknownst to me, I had wandered around until two in the afternoon. There was still one last city to visit before entering Amsterdam: Haarlem. Another beautiful city. Let's take a look.

This city is considered one of the most beautiful cities with a river running through it.

A must-visit when in Amsterdam, located just 15 kilometers away.

Let's take a look at an example. In the evening, we returned to our accommodation and took the train to continue exploring Amsterdam. The next day, the last day of the trip, I spent the whole day in Amsterdam.