The whole process of Alkmaar chaffering is exceedingly perplexing and elusive.

Otherwise the buyer walks away to other cheeses, the seller by no means unconscious of his movements.

A little later he returns, and then as likely as not his terms are accepted, unless another has been beforehand with him and bought the lot.
Not until half-past ten strikes may the weighing begin.

At that hour the many porters suddenly spring into activity and hasten to the Weigh House with their loads, which are ticketed off by the master of the scales.
The scene is altogether very Dutch and very interesting; and one should make a point of crossing the canal to get a general view of the market, with the river craft in the foreground, the bustling dealers behind, and above all the elaborate tower and facade of the Weigh House.
Alkmaar otherwise is not of great interest.

It has a large light church, bare and bleak according to custom, with very attractive green curtains against its whitewash, in which, according to the author of _Through Noord-Holland_, is a tomb containing "the entrails of Count Florence the Fifth".