Edam, Netherlands

Edam is a town in the northwest of Netherlands in the province of North Holland. Edam is also known for its famous cheese covered in red or yellow wax typically made from skim milk which gives it a lighter taste.

Edam's Wednesday morning market; it's held year-round, but is best in July and August, is when farmers bring their cheese by boat and horse to the center of town. You can watch as the cheese is weighed and traded by Edamers in traditional garb.

Although Edam is known today for cheese, it was once an industrious shipyard and port. That's why, in the 17th century, the town's specialty became one of the most popular cheeses in the world. Sailors took wheels of Edam on their voyages — the cheese doesn't spoil easily and could be traded for spices and other riches of the East.

The ships are long gone; today, Edam's main trade is tourism. The best thing to do is to just wander its storybook lanes and canals which is exactly what Dave and I did early in the morning.Read more