Alkmaar is ringed by a moat — the singel — and laced with smaller inner canals that wrap around the old town. The pattern is the original 17th-century layout, with merchant houses standing right on the water's edge, low stone bridges, and tree-lined banks. The Verdronkenoord canal, just east of the Waagplein, is one of the prettiest stretches.
The easiest way to see the canals from the water is the Grachtenrondvaart boat tour that runs from the moorings near the Mient on the Verdronkenoord. The hour-long circuit goes through the inner canals and out onto the moat, with commentary in Dutch and English. On a clear day, the views of the gabled houses from water level are the postcard image of Alkmaar.