Cheeses of Edam
A small harbour town on the old Zuiderzee that gave its name to the round, red-waxed cheese shipped around the world.
Made, aged and sold here
Best time: July and August, when the summer cheese market is held.
Edam is a small town of canals and drawbridges north of Amsterdam, once a busy port on the Zuiderzee. Its round cheese, made from part-skimmed milk, travelled well by ship, and Edam became one of the best-known Dutch exports. For export it was coated in red wax, and the red ball became its image around the world.
Edam cheese
Edam is a semi-hard cow's milk cheese, lower in fat than Gouda because part of the cream is skimmed off. It is pressed into a ball, brined and aged for a few weeks to many months. Young Edam is mild and springy; aged Edam is firmer and saltier. The Dutch eat it mostly with a natural rind, while red wax is used for export.
The town and its market
The Kaaswaag, the cheese weigh house of 1778, stands by a canal in the centre and shows the history of the trade. In summer, a traditional cheese market is held on set days for visitors. Edam's old town has a leaning church tower, a museum in a merchant's house and quiet canals that lead to the IJsselmeer shore.
A trail idea for Edam
- Kaaswaag The 1778 cheese weigh house in the town centre.
- Summer cheese market Watch the traditional market on its summer days.
- Edams Museum A merchant's house with a floating cellar.
- Volendam The fishing town on the IJsselmeer, a short ride away.
Written by the EveryCheese desk with AI assistance. Background: "Edam, Netherlands" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets, caves and tours change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Edam: Yvwv, CC BY-SA 3.0, source