The Sights and Sounds of Alkmaar

Off we go again into Europe, this time to Holland and the Northern Town of Alkmaar. It is home to our opponents AZ Alkmaar and their 17,000 thousand DSB Stadium. The Blues received 1,200 tickets for the match, but somehow me thinks that plenty more Blues will be in the Stadium than that.

In the day you will have lots on offer to occupy your time. Forget drinking, singing songs and all that nonsense, when you can visit the World renowned Alkmaar Cheese Fair. Dave Watson our great friend at Bluekipper can be seen at this market several times a year, checking out his mild cheddars, and the rare gorgonzola's that are on offer.

If cheese does not float your boat, well you can visit Alkmaar's Pink light district called 'The Achterdam'. It is a 150 metre long street with girlies on both sides. They are mainly Eastern Europe who work this area, and according to some sites I have researched the best girlies in the Netherlands. The area has about 100 windows with rooms. Hey that's Wikpedia's words not mine, but in the interest of creative journalism, I feel it is best if I check it out.

Alkmaar has a population of 94,000, and here's the good news, it is home to the National Beer Museum of Holland, where you can see beer being brewed, and even better drink it. Bizarrely but ironically Alkmaar is also home to a Beatles Museum, don't ask. Apparently it contains cosha memorabilia. According to its website John Lennon's first guitar was apparently made in Alkmaar, or that is what I think it says as it's all Dutch to me !!

The temperatures at the moment are identical to the UK. Sunny and cold in the day, and absolutely baltic at night, so wrap up warm.

So eat your cheese, go for a walk round the windows, have a few beers and listen to the Beatles, but most importantly lets see the Blues finish the Group off on an unbeaten note, and enjoy your stay in Holland, we certainly will. (18/12/07)