Alkmaar, town in the western Netherlands, in Noord-Holland (North Holland) Province, on the Noordholands Kanaal, near Amsterdam. Alkmaar is a trading center for cattle, corn, and dairy products; cheese is a major export and the city is famous for its cheese market. Sailcloth is also manufactured here. In 1573 the town successfully withstood a Spanish siege. In October 1799, during the Napoleonic Wars, the commander in chief of the Anglo-Russian army in the Netherlands signed the French terms of capitulation in Alkmaar. Population (2000) 92,713.
