Conference Matters 142

BRANDED CONTENT

Holland at its m Alkmaar and Hotel Zuiderduin , the perfect match

village. And let’s not forget the friendly coastal villages, many kilometres of sandy beaches and wonderful woodlands and dunes all within a stone’s throw. In other words, all the beauty the Netherlands has to offer lies here at your feet. There can be no doubt: Alkmaar is alive! There’s plenty to do all year round. 2024 will see the 200th anniversary of the Noordhollands Kanaal, which flows through Alkmaar. It is the setting for Alkmaar Overstad, among other things: a some what more industrial location but certainly no less lively than the city centre. Take the Ringer sterrein for example, which has been designated an industrial heritage site. This former cacao and chocolate factory is currently being transformed into a hospitality hotspot. Hal25 is certainly also worth a visit. This large industrial hall with outdoor area is a creative breeding ground and is home to many experiments and organised events. Accessibility Alkmaar is very easily accessible. It is only half an hour by train or road from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport There are five trains per hour to Alkmaar and the train station is a mere five-minute walk from the centre. The city offers a wide range of conferencing and meeting locations. The largest are the AFAS Stadium, on the outskirts of the city, with a capacity of 1,000 persons, TAQA The atre De Vest (700 persons), Grote Kerk Alkmaar (750 persons), Poppodium Victorie, Hal25 and Hotel Zuiderduin in Egmond aan Zee.

nature reserve is the ideal backdrop for hours of walks or biking. All this makes the combination of Alkmaar and Egmond the perfect destination for conferences. Enterprising and resourceful The Netherlands is full of historic cities. How ever, Alkmaar certainly stands out above the rest. This is one of the most beautifully preser ved and greenest cities of the Netherlands. Alkmaar residents have had the reputation of being enterprising and resourceful, for many cen turies. They were responsible for defeating the Spanish in 1573, putting an end to 80 years of war. That day is still abundantly celebrated annu ally, with music, dancing and great food. Internationally, Alkmaar is better known as the cheese city of the Netherlands. No surprises there, as Alkmaar has the oldest and largest cheese market in the country. People have tra velled from far and wide to buy and sell cheese and other regional products here, since 1365. This tradition continues even today. From late March until late September, thousands of people from all over the world can enjoy this unique and colourful spectacle. Compact city The people of Alkmaar certainly know how to enjoy life. Alkmaar is a wonderfully compact city with a lively centre, where there is always plenty to do. Just a few steps out of the city, you’ll find the real Dutch polders with their characteristic windmills and pretty villages such as De Rijp: once elected the Netherlands’ most beautiful

Alkmaar is Holland at its best. Yet less than half an hour from Amsterdam. Wonderful canals lined with traditional Dutch houses with step ped gables. A bustling centre full of fun shops and pavement cafés, not to forget the world- famous Cheese market. But also woodlands, dunes and many kilometres of sandy beaches all close by. Alkmaar has everything it takes to leave a lasting impression. Green historical city on the coast Alkmaar received the Green Cities Europe Award in 2022. This award was a fitting testament to the way in which Alkmaar has added 30,000 square metres of greenery to the city over a three-year period. The Green Cities election was subsequently organised in Alkmaar in 2023, where greenery and sustainability professionals from other cities could learn lessons from the Alkmaar example. By now, it has also been desig nated an exemplary city for historic cities, thanks to another initiative, POCITYF, by the European Union. A performance of which we can be proud. When thinking of Alkmaar, we naturally also include Egmond aan Zee; a friendly seaside town less than ten kilometres from Alkmaar. Egmond provides year-round enjoyment of the beach, sea and fun. It’s so easy to enjoy yourself here: the rush of the waves in the background, the space around you, the fresh silty sea air..... Everyone just loves it. Stroll along the lovely beach, admi ring the beautiful sunset, or simply relax at one of the stylish beach restaurants. There’s also plenty to discover in the Egmond dunes. This By Judith Munster

Hotel in Egmond Only 100 metres from the beach in Egmond, we

62