Alkmaar in Pictures

December 4, 2025-29 March 2026

On the occasion of Alkmaar's 700th anniversary, several festivities were organized in 1954. One of the initiatives was to use art photographers to compile a photo book of contemporary Alkmaar buildings, people and events provided with a short descriptive text. The example was a photobook of Paris entitled "Grand Bal de Printemps" (1951).

The book titled "Alkmaar" appeared in July 1954. For the Netherlands the book was unique; many more such photo books would follow in the 1950s. In the postwar years, this form of photography would be increasingly recognized as an art form. A number of photographers who participated in the photo assignment would grow to become well-known, even internationally famous photographers in the years that followed.

The exhibition features nearly 100 photographs by Eva Besnyö (1910-2003), Carel Blazer (1911-1980), Henk Jonker (1912-2002), Maria Austria (1915-1975), and Ad Windig (1912-1996).

The exhibition is a collaboration between the Regionaal Archief Alkmaar, the Maria Austria Institute and Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar, on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the Archives and the 150th anniversary of Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar.

Practical information 

The exhibition opens on December 4, 2025, at 11:00 am. The last day this exhibition will be on view at Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar is March 29, 2026.