The Cheese Market
It isn't my original photograph of course, but I was fascinated by this old image (exact date unknown) of Alkmaar's cheese market. The earliest known date for a cheese weighing house in Alkmaar is 1365. Obviously this is from a much more recent time. In the photo, cheese is being delivered from local farms for a certain amount of quality control, bargaining, weighing and onward sale. Such events live on during the summer season as tourist attractions. However, the commercial reality is that consolidation and buy-outs mean that there are just two enormous industrial cheese companies left in Holland, Beemster and Campina.
The square is certainly recognisable today, although it is now surrounded by cafes and restaurants. Also, you now see a vastly different populace from all cultures and ethnic groups, not to mention as many women as men!
The Cheese Market
It isn't my original photograph of course, but I was fascinated by this old image (exact date unknown) of Alkmaar's cheese market. The earliest known date for a cheese weighing house in Alkmaar is 1365. Obviously this is from a much more recent time. In the photo, cheese is being delivered from local farms for a certain amount of quality control, bargaining, weighing and onward sale. Such events live on during the summer season as tourist attractions. However, the commercial reality is that consolidation and buy-outs mean that there are just two enormous industrial cheese companies left in Holland, Beemster and Campina.
The square is certainly recognisable today, although it is now surrounded by cafes and restaurants. Also, you now see a vastly different populace from all cultures and ethnic groups, not to mention as many women as men!