Take the bus from Amsterdam and you'll arrive in Purmerend within twenty minutes. The influence of the capital city can still be felt in this former fishing village. From the nineteen seventies, many inhabitants of the Jordaan district in Amsterdam moved to Purmerend: in search of a bigger house with a garden. It is no surprise then that a Jordaan Festival is now regularly organised in Purmerend. Typical Dutch conviviality in Purmerend!
Market City
Purmerend is known far and wide as a lively market city. Throughout the centuries many markets were held here, including a cheese market, sheep market, fish market, horse market, calf market, vegetable market and poultry market. These markets drew many merchants and buyers to the city, such as the farmers from the surrounding polders, the Beemster, Wormer and Purmer. With two annual markets and a weekly market a lively trade began, which enabled the inhabitants of Purmerend to earn their daily bread.
Nightlife at the cattle market
Since the sixteen century, the famous cattle market was added and held on the Koemarkt square. Tuesday was always market day and until late in the twentieth century farmers still traded cattle here every week. Nowadays, cattle is no longer sold on this square, but the Koemarkt has grown to become the most important nightlife square in Purmerend.
Watching and doing
The rich trading history can especially be seen in the centre of Purmerend. The former neo-Rennaissance city hall on Kaasmarkt, is definitely worth seeing. It is now home to the Purmerend Museum, where a world-famous collection of beautiful Art Deco pottery can be admired. Museum Waterland can also be found at Kaasmarkt. For those who enjoy sporting activities, there is much more to do in Purmerend: golf, bowling and cycling. For children there's the lovely indoor playground Monkey Town!