Blog
Stories from the city, tips for your hamper
About local makers, smart purchasing and the tax side of giving. Written by the Alkmaar in a Box team.
Makers · 4 min
Brouwerij de Die: the city brewery that puts Alkmaar on the label
Beers named after the city itself, from '8 oktober' to 't Ciereadt van Alkmaar.
Read the articleMakers
Brouwerij Dampegheest: characterful beer with a firm North Holland backbone
Known for the Alkmaars Blondje and the Merakels series - brewed just outside the city.
24 August 2026 · 4 min
Guide
Christmas hamper Alkmaar: the complete guide for employers in the city
Everything about Christmas hampers in Alkmaar: budgets, quantities, delivery, personalisation, WKR and why local wins every time.
23 August 2026 · 8 min
Makers
Brouwerij Egmond: a dune brewery honouring the cheese carriers
From the Egmond dunes to the Waagplein: Kaasdragers beer as an ode to the men in white.
22 August 2026 · 4 min
Inspiration
Christmas hamper ideas 2026: 12 ideas that always work in Alkmaar
From drinks box to breakfast hamper: twelve Christmas hamper ideas, plus why a hamper filled locally in Alkmaar scores best with your team.
22 August 2026 · 4 min
Inspiration
Original Christmas hamper: how to give something that won't end up in a cupboard
Why standard hampers disappoint, and how local makers, personalisation and a story make a real impression.
21 August 2026 · 3 min
Makers
John Altman: two sisters who made the snack cupboard more honest
From two resignations in 2015 to organic popcorn and nuts with no unnecessary additions.
20 August 2026 · 4 min
Impact
Sustainable Christmas hamper Alkmaar: local, plastic-free and with social impact
What actually makes a Christmas hamper sustainable - from transport miles and packaging to packing via a social employment workshop.
20 August 2026 · 6 min
Makers
Brouwerij Zeglis: a small Alkmaar brewery that dares to experiment
Small-scale brewing with guts - including a wintry beer brewed with real pine needles.
19 August 2026 · 4 min
Comparison
A Kerstpakkettenplaza alternative in Alkmaar: local instead of mass-produced
Large national suppliers deliver volume. Looking for a hamper with city identity and personal service instead? Here's what the alternative looks like.
19 August 2026 · 5 min
Tips
Putting together a Christmas hamper: the step-by-step plan for Alkmaar employers
Budget, numbers, dietary requirements, personalisation and delivery - a hamper that works, in seven steps.
18 August 2026 · 7 min
Makers
In de Soete Suykerbol: pure city pride in sweet form
Gable sweets, Alkmaarse schaapjes, love tea and the Waeghalsje: the old town's sweet shop.
17 August 2026 · 4 min
Comparison
A Rituals hamper alternative: an Alkmaar gift with character
Beauty gifts are a safe choice, but rarely a surprising one. Here's what to give instead of the well-known fragrance set.
17 August 2026 · 5 min
Inspiration
Alkmaar Christmas hamper for women: why we don't think in pink boxes
Splitting gifts by gender rarely works well. Here's what does: taste profiles, freedom of choice and Alkmaar makers.
16 August 2026 · 2 min
Business
Original Christmas hamper for staff: what Alkmaar teams really appreciate
From conversations with dozens of Alkmaar employers: this is what separates a dutiful hamper from a genuine thank-you.
15 August 2026 · 6 min
Makers
Alkmaarse Notenbranderij: freshly roasted in small batches
From Japanese nut mix to Old Alkmaar: hand-roasted nuts and peanut butter from the city itself.
14 August 2026 · 4 min
Inspiration
Alkmaar Christmas hamper for men: beer, drinks and something with a bit of bite
After something sturdier? These are the Alkmaar compositions chosen most often - without falling into cliché.
14 August 2026 · 2 min
Inspiration
XL Christmas hampers Alkmaar: giving big without waste
For anniversaries, farewells or a standout year: how to put together an XL hamper that impresses and still gets fully used.
13 August 2026 · 2 min
Makers
Klepper & Klepper: North Holland's artisan liquorice makers
From sweet to fiercely salty: an impressive liquorice range made with real craftsmanship.
12 August 2026 · 4 min
Trends
Christmas hamper 2026 trends: what Alkmaar employers are asking for this year
Hyperlocal, diet-friendly, less packaging and more story. The five trends shaping the 2026 season.
12 August 2026 · 6 min
Inspiration
Christmas gift inspiration for companies: from small gesture to grand thank-you
Inspiration for employees, clients and suppliers - with budgets, do's and don'ts, and Alkmaar examples.
11 August 2026 · 2 min
Makers
A.C. de Boer Patisserie: the craftsmanship behind the Alkmaarse jongens
The Alkmaar patisserie baking the famous Alkmaarse jongens biscuits and airy meringues.
10 August 2026 · 4 min
Comparison
Kerstpakket Makro: the Alkmaar alternative without the wholesaler feel
Wholesaler hampers are fast and keenly priced. Here's what a local alternative looks like that actually tells a story.
10 August 2026 · 5 min
Comparison
Kerstpakket Sligro alternative: buying local instead of from the catalogue
Why more and more Alkmaar employers are sourcing their Christmas hamper from local makers instead of the foodservice wholesaler.
9 August 2026 · 5 min
Business
Printing end-of-year gifts: logo, card and sleeve without the kitsch
How to get your logo onto an end-of-year gift tastefully - and where it's better not to put a brand name at all.
8 August 2026 · 5 min
Makers
De Kaasopslag: farmhouse cheese from the cheese city itself
A cheese specialist with local farmhouse cheese: plain, tomato-pepper or pesto basil.
7 August 2026 · 4 min
Inspiration
Christmas hamper with coffee: Alkmaar beans as the heart of your hamper
From freshly roasted beans to the right grind: here's how to build a coffee hamper that keeps delivering every morning.
7 August 2026 · 2 min
Inspiration
Alkmaar Christmas hamper with a game: a gift that starts the conversation
Add a city game or quiz to your hamper and turn a box of treats into a team activity.
6 August 2026 · 2 min
Tips
How to put together a 2026 Christmas hamper that Alkmaar can be proud of
From budget and quantities to local makers and personalisation: a practical step-by-step plan for the perfect Alkmaar Christmas hamper.
5 August 2026 · 5 min
Makers
Alkmaars Goud: the city's tastiest souvenir
Cheese with a golden edge in festive packaging - Alkmaar as a gift.
5 August 2026 · 4 min
Business
End-of-year gift for clients: stand out without going over the top
Timing, tone and size determine whether your corporate gift lands well. Plus: what's handy to know about tax.
5 August 2026 · 6 min
Tips
Halal Christmas hamper in Alkmaar: an equally good gift for everyone
Here's how to put together a hamper with no alcohol and no pork that looks every bit as good as the standard version.
4 August 2026 · 5 min
Makers
Wijndomein de Koen: wine from North Holland soil
A vineyard in Langedijk, close to Alkmaar: from Langedijk sparkling wine to a fresh first-harvest rosé.
3 August 2026 · 4 min
Tips
Gluten-free Christmas hamper: a great gift without the exception feeling
Which Alkmaar products are naturally gluten-free, and how to put together a fully-fledged gluten-free box.
3 August 2026 · 5 min
Inspiration
Christmas hamper with a drinks platter: the Alkmaar borrel as a gift
Cheese, nuts, savoury spreads and a good drink - here's how to build a drinks platter that rounds off the year nicely.
2 August 2026 · 2 min
Inspiration
Non-food Christmas hamper: gifts that last, without plastic gadgets
Sustainable water bottles, ceramics and textiles from Alkmaar makers - non-food that actually gets used.
1 August 2026 · 2 min
Makers
Ben Bits: North Holland mints without sugar, with character
Sugar-free mints and chewing gum, from liquorice mint to punchy salmiak.
31 July 2026 · 4 min
Budget
Christmas hamper for 20 euros: what's possible in Alkmaar?
With a small budget you can still give something good - if you choose fewer products of better quality.
31 July 2026 · 4 min
Business
Ordering a Christmas hamper online: how it works with us, from box to doorstep
Choose online, personalise, pay or order on invoice - sorted in five steps.
30 July 2026 · 4 min
Business
Christmas hamper with logo: your brand on the box, not on the food
Where should your logo go (and not go), what file do we need, and what does it cost? Everything about branded Christmas hampers.
29 July 2026 · 5 min
Makers
Bon Choco: the chocolatier returning in nearly every box
From mocha beans to chocolate snow: chocolate that forms the sweet heart of the hamper.
28 July 2026 · 4 min
Inspiration
Christmas hamper without food: worthwhile alternatives to edibles
For teams with many dietary requirements or a non-food preference: these are the strongest Alkmaar alternatives.
28 July 2026 · 2 min
Budget
Cheap Christmas hamper: buying sharply without it looking cheap
Seven ways to lower the price per hamper while quality and the gesture stay intact.
27 July 2026 · 5 min
Inspiration
Christmas hamper with cheese: keeping a cheese hamper fresh and surprising
Which cheeses work in a hamper, how does the cooling and delivery time work, and what do you add to it?
26 July 2026 · 2 min
Makers
Say Cheese Today: creamy small cheeses for the cheese board
Handy formats, creamy flavour - made to be shared.
25 July 2026 · 4 min
Budget
€50 Christmas hamper: the most popular budget in Alkmaar
What you get for €50 per hamper, and why this bracket gives the best ratio between impact and cost.
25 July 2026 · 5 min
Budget
Small Christmas hamper: giving compactly with maximum impact
For large teams, business relations, or as an addition to a bonus: here's how to make a small hamper that still feels complete.
24 July 2026 · 4 min
Inspiration
Luxury Christmas hamper Alkmaar: refined giving with local top makers
What makes a hamper luxurious? Not the price, but the rarity of the products and the finish of the packaging.
23 July 2026 · 2 min
Makers
Dutch Cookie: the Likorette, a liqueur with a biscuit-spiced twist
A sweet liqueur inspired by Dutch biscuit spices - surprising and familiar at once.
22 July 2026 · 4 min
Inspiration
Large Christmas hamper: giving generously without anything going to waste
Putting together a large hamper requires choices. Here's how to make sure volume doesn't come at the expense of quality.
22 July 2026 · 2 min
Budget
€100 Christmas hamper: what to give with a generous budget?
For anniversaries, board members or top clients. Here's how to spend €100 per hamper on something truly special.
21 July 2026 · 5 min
Budget
€25 Christmas hamper: the best starting point for large teams
What you can give for €25 per hamper, and why a compact Alkmaar box works better than a stuffed cheap one.
20 July 2026 · 4 min
Inspiration
Christmas hamper with wine: regional wine as a surprise
Why wine from a vineyard just outside Alkmaar works better than an anonymous bottle, and what to add to it.
19 July 2026 · 2 min
Makers
The makers behind our boxes: five Alkmaar crafts in the spotlight
Coffee roasters, distillers, bakers and chocolate makers. Meet the people who fill our hampers.
18 July 2026 · 6 min
Inspiration
Christmas hamper with chocolate: from a real Alkmaar chocolatier
From mocha beans to chocolate snow: why chocolate from a real chocolatier can be the heart of your hamper.
18 July 2026 · 2 min
Tips
Christmas hamper filling: what to put in (and what not to)
The ideal balance between sweet, savoury, drinks and non-food - plus the filling materials we do and don't use.
17 July 2026 · 5 min
Inspiration
Christmas hamper with beer: Alkmaar breweries in one box
Dampegheest, Egmond, Zeglis and De Die: how to put together a beer hamper that surprises without overdoing it.
16 July 2026 · 5 min
Business
The Dutch WKR explained for HR: what can you give tax-free in 2026?
Free allowance, final levy and VAT deduction without the tax jargon, with a worked example for a team of 60.
30 June 2026 · 4 min
Impact
Giving sustainably: less plastic, more impact
How we package without plastic, pack via a social employment workshop, and donate surplus to the food bank.
22 May 2026 · 3 min
Trends
Christmas hampers 2025: which trends stuck (and which didn't)
Looking back on the 2025 season: local won, plastic lost, and choice portals proved less popular than expected.
10 February 2026 · 5 min