ALKMAAR, town in the province of North Holland, Hol land, 241m. by rail north-north-west of Amsterdam, communi cating with Haarlem and Amsterdam, and on the North Holland canal. Pop. (193o) 28,3°5. The name Alkmaar ("all sea") first occurs in the loth century and recalls the original situation of a fishing village in the midst of marshes and lakes. The first charter was dated 1254; charters (1436 and 1437) of Philip the Good of Burgundy established an oligarchy on grounds of pre vious mismanagement ; much damage was done in wars between Hollanders and Frisians. and the Gelderlanders and Frisians captured the town in 1517. In 1573 it successfully sustained a siege by the Spaniards. It acquired an important trade after reclamation of the surrounding swamps from 1685 onwards. In 1799 it gave its name to a convention by which the Russo-British army evacuated Holland. It is a typical North Holland town, with tree-lined canals and brightly coloured i7th century houses. The city walls have been replaced by boulevards and there is a park with a monument commemorating the siege by the Spaniards in 1573. The Groote Kerk (147o-1498) has the tomb of Floris V., count of Holland (d. 1296). In the town hall 0507) are the library and a small museum with two pictures by Caesar van Everdingen, who, with his brother Allart van Everdingen (q.v.), was a native of the town. The weigh-house (1582) has a quaint gable and tower. Alkmaar has a flourishing butter and cheese trade, and is a centre of cheese export. It is also a considerable market town. Tramways connect Alkmaar with Egmond and the summer resort of Bergen, sheltered by woods and dunes.