Alkmaar is located in the middle of the North Holland peninsula was granted city rights in 1254, making it one of the oldest in the region. A perimeter wall was built to protect against their neighboring West Frisian adversaries.

During the 14th and 15th centuries Alkmaar expanded to the east which meant much of the wall had to be dismantled. By the end of the 16th century, a new city wall was completed with 9 bastions and 7 entry gates.

Notable Alkmaar landmarks include traditional homes from the 14-17th centuries, St Laurenskerk church (1518), Stadhuis city hall (1520), Waag weigh house (1582), Accijnstoren canal tower (1622), De Ambachtsmolen windmill (1632), Huis de Dieu patrician house (1744) and Vismarkt fish market (1755). During summer months there is also a traditional cheese market held on the Waagplein square.

Enkhuizen was granted city rights in 1356, one year before the nearby village of Hoorn. It is located mid-way up the North Holland peninsula and began as a fishing community. It developed into a port city when its harbor was expanded and fortifications were added during the 16th century. Enkhuizen flourished during the Dutch Golden Age and became home to a department of the Dutch East India Company.

There is a plethora of monumental buildings to admire in the old city center including the Westerkerk church (1519), Zuiderkerk church (1524), Drommedaris harbor watch tower (1540), Waag weigh house (1559), West-Friese Munt mint (1617), Stadhuis town hall (1686), Koepoort city gate (1730) and Snouck van Loosenhuis patrician home (1786). Also visit the Zuiderzee Museum which has two parts: indoor and outdoor.

As it is one of the best preserved historic North Holland towns, a visit to Haarlem should be on every tourist and expat’s list of things to do. It was granted city rights in 1245 and was home to the Counts of Holland. Its protective perimeter wall allowed the city to hold off the attacking Spanish army for 7 months (1572-1573) early in the fight for independence. Haarlem grew significantly during the Dutch Golden Age, becoming a key trading and cultural center. Today the city is the capital of the province of North Holland.

Haarlem’s historic city center is well maintained and most monumental landmarks are within a 10 minute walk of the central Grote Markt square. These include the Waalse Kerk church (1348), Amsterdamse Poort former city gate (1355), Stadhuis city hall (1370), St Bavokerk church (1479), Waag weigh house (1598), Vleeshal meat markt (1604), Vishal fish market (1769) and Molen de Adriaan windmill (1779).

Medemblik was granted city rights in 1289 making it one of the oldest historic North Holland towns. It is located at the northern end of the peninsula in the region of West Friesland. As a port city on the former Zuiderzee, it gained prosperity through trade and fishing. The latter part of the 16th century proved difficult for Medemblik which suffered significant destruction from a major fire in 1555, and was further damaged during seiges by the Spanish in 1572 and 1588.

Still the Medemblik old town center has many monumental buildings including Radboud Castle (1288), St Bonifacius tower (1404) and church (1555), De Vier Noorder Koggen administration building (early 1600’s), Waag weigh house (1692), Huize ‘Levensavond’ former orphanage (1785), Landswerf military barracks (1796), Medemblik train station (1887) and Stadhuis town hall (1939).

Naarden dates back to 1355 and is located at the south end of the former Zuiderzee, east of Amsterdam, near the provincial border with Utrecht. At the start of the Dutch rebellion in 1572, the Spanish army laid siege to the town. When the town eventually surrendered, over 700 of its townspeople were rounded up in front of the town hall and murdered by the Spanish troops. From the 17th century, Naarden became part of the New Dutch Waterlinie defense line.

Naarden is considered the best preserved, star-shaped fortress town in the Netherlands. Aside from the city’s 17th century protective wall that still stands, there are many other monumental structures including the Grote Kerk church (1518), Stadhuis town hall (1601), Het Spaanse Huis weigh house (1615), Arsenal building (1688), traditional 16th and 17th century houses along Kloosterstraat and the Utrechtsche Poort city gate (1877).