Information panel | Cheese market Purmerend
Purmerend's Cheese Market has a market history of over 600 years. The first small-scale market was held here in 1484, when the square was still called Marktveld and was no more than a small square.
After the reclamation of De Beemster in the early 17th century, the market really started to grow. To cope with this growth, the town underwent some reorganisation. The cattle market was moved to the old Kloosterwerf (now the Koemarkt). The square itself also changed. A few buildings were demolished to make room, the town hall was set back 10 metres, the big church was demolished and even the cemetery was closed and paved over for market trade.
Eventually, all markets were spread across the town and w...
After the reclamation of De Beemster in the early 17th century, the market really started to grow. To cope with this growth, the town underwent some reorganisation. The cattle market was moved to the old Kloosterwerf (now the Koemarkt). The square itself also changed. A few buildings were demolished to make room, the town hall was set back 10 metres, the big church was demolished and even the cemetery was closed and paved over for market trade.
Eventually, all markets were spread across the town and the cheese market was the only place where cheese was traded. With peak years of four million kilos of cheese a year, the Purmerend cheese market was the second largest cheese market in the Netherlands, after Alkmaar. Yet the Purmerend cheese market was more innovative. Whereas in Alkmaar the cheeses were still carried on berries to the Waag by cheese carriers, in Purmerend cheese bins with a wheeled trolley were used. The backs of the cheese carriers lasted longer in Purmerend!
In the mid-20th century, the industrialisation of the dairy industry overtook the traditional Cheese Market. Shortly before 1940, the very last Cheese Market was held in Purmerend. Its success certainly contributed to Purmerend's status as the market town of North Holland. A visit to the Cheese Market is still worthwhile today. You will find terraces, the Nicolaaskerk and the impressive Purmerends Museum in the old town hall. Also take a look at the information panel.
