Purmerend City Walk

(2,0 km)
The City Walk goes through the historic heart of Purmerend. Walk past centuries’ old squares and through streets where in the past, merchants noisily traded. Don’t forget to look up: facades tell a story, architectural styles vary.

Route
This route can be followed via the red arrows that can be found on lampposts, traffic posts or route posts and show you the way along the route. The route starts and ends at the TOP (Tourist Transfer Point) on the Beemsterburgwal.

Useful information
The free brochure with routemap is available at the VVV Museum Shop.

Dit ga je zien

1
Tourist Transfer Point (TOP) Purmerend

TOPs are Tourist Transfer Points. You can park your car at each TOP and then discover the rural surroundings by bike, on foot or by boat.

Informatiezuil TOP Purmerend
2
Vismarkt (Fish Market)

When you say Purmerend, you will most likely think of the Koemarkt and the cattle trade. However, until about 1880 Purmerend was mainly known for fishing and the sale of Purmer eel.

Vismarkt Purmerend
3
Peperstraat

Together with Hoogstraat and Gouw, the Peperstraat is one of the oldest streets in the city.

Peperstraat facade ornaments
4
Kerkstraat (Church Street)

You may notice that, despite the name, there is no church here. Many historic buildings have been replaced or have been given a different purpose. This also applies to the building of the former Catholic church.

Theater de Purmaryn
5
Koemarkt (Cattle Market)

Until the eighties of the last century, Purmerend was a bustling 'Market City'. Every week, the Koemarkt would be full of cattle, ready to be sold.

Flyer cattle market
6
Information panel Purmer-Poort | Looiersplein

When Purmerend received city status in 1410, ramparts were built around the city and four gates were built on the access roads. These gates were closed at night, making living within the city a lot safer.

A painting of the Purmer Gate
7
Koemarkt (left side)

Purmerend is centrally located in North Holland. As a result, traders and consumers from all over the province came to Purmerend on Tuesday (market day). Of course, the local population was happy to take advantage of this.

Historical photo of a market cafe on the Koemarkt
8
Information panel Postbrug | Herengracht

The first building outside the city walls of Purmerend was built around 1900. The impressive mansions on the Herengracht and Emmakade are still here today.

An old image of the Emmakade with the Postbrug in the background
9
Information panel Amsterdamsche-Poort | Tramplein

If you look for the tram on Tramplein, you will be disappointed. The name comes from the time when the steam tram from Amsterdam to Alkmaar ran along Purmerend.

An 18th century drawing of the Amsterdamsche Poort in Purmerend
10
Information panel Kaasmarkt (Cheese Market)

The Kaasmarkt in Purmerend has a market history of more than 600 years. The first small-scale market was held here in 1484, when it was still called Marktveld and was no more than a small square.

A painting of the Purmerend Cheese Market around 1900
11
Krommesteeg (Crooked Alley)

It takes some searching to find it, but take a walk through this alley from the Padjedijk.

Mural advertisement Krommesteeg
12
Information panel Slot Purmersteijn | Slotplein

The Slotplein is an important, historic place for Purmerend. There is not much left to see now, but this used to be the location of an enormous castle, with large donjons on the corners and huge halls. Even bigger than the Muiderslot!

17th century painting of Slot Purmersteijn
13
Tourist Transfer Point (TOP) Purmerend

TOPs are Tourist Transfer Points. You can park your car at each TOP and then discover the rural surroundings by bike, on foot or by boat.

Informatiezuil TOP Purmerend