Cheese has been exported from The Netherlands since the middle ages and to date The Netherlands is the world’s largest cheese exporter. No wonder why two of the most famous cheeses are named after their town of origin Edam and Gouda.
Edam is well known for its round shape whilst Gouda is the most commonly produced cheese. The cheese culture in Holland is not something recent; in fact archaeological research shows that inhabitants of the Low Countries have been producing cheese since prehistoric times.
The first cheese markets and weigh houses were introduced in the middle Ages so as to control both the quality and quantity of cheese being sold.
The traditional merchant cheese markets in Alkmaar, Gouda and Edam are fully functional to this date. During summer months these three villages follow traditional rituals of the cheese trading process. Cheese markets are one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions. Alkmaar is just over half an hour from Amsterdam Central Station by intercity train.
most famous cheeses are named after their town of origin Edam and Gouda.
