The club has now had a number of very successful visits to Alkmaar and we have also received guests to the UK.

Alkmaar is a town close to Amsterdam. Some areas of Alkmaar are six metres below sea level, which is odd as the town has many canals ! Windmills were used to pump millions of gallons of water out of Holland’s low-lying areas but this is now done with huge electric pumps, and the remaining windmills work only for their immediate vicinities.

The Rotary Club of Alkmaar meets every Monday evening. They currently have 37 members, ranging from mayors to bulb growers.