Haarlem
Escape from the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam to small town Haarlem to enjoy leisurely bike rides, shopping, hidden gardens and medieval buildings included on the Dutch Heritage register known as Rijksmonuments. Haarlem is just a stones throw away from Amsterdam via train which makes for a perfect day or overnight trip.
Did you know that Harlem, New York is actually named after Haarlem, the Netherlands? Nieuw Haarlem (now called Harlem, New York) was founded in 1658 by Peter Stuyvesant, the director-general of the Dutch colony of Nieuw Nederland in Manhattan as an outpost of Nieuw Amsterdam.
ARRIVING TO HAARLEM
You will most likely arrive to Haarlem via railway. The railway line between Amsterdam and Haarlem was the first railway line built in Holland with the train station completed in 1839 and rebuilt in 1906. The commute between Amsterdam and Haarlem is around 20 minutes and costs around 9 €.
Note : You can arrive to Haarlem from any city.
CANAL NETWORK
The canals in Holland are unique and listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Download a portion of the Holland canal map network in pdf format.
HAARLEM CANAL TOUR
Take an open boat canal tour down Haarlem's oldest canal, the Bakenessergracht, cruise the river Spaarne and see some of Haarlem’s historic buildings.
AROUND HAARLEM
Enjoy a day of walking, biking or open boat canal tour in Haarlem. There is always something to see and do and the sights are amazing. The captivating small town historical feel of Haarlem draws visitors from around the world.
GROTE MARKT
Enjoy fresh food from local farmers and tasty authentic street food. You can also buy household goods, clothes, accessories, personal items, tools, etc. The Grote Markt is usually open on Mondays and Saturdays from 9:00 to 16:00. The Gothic style Grote of St.-Bavokerk is a nice backdrop to the Markt.
GROTE KERK
The Grote of St.-Bavokerk (Church of St. Bavo) is located in the Grote Markt built in Gothic style adorned on the inside with a world famous organ and medieval art.
BIKING & SHOPPING
Haarlem is a great bike riding town where you can enjoy getting around on bicycles and small motorbikes. Don't expect to ride fast due to the pedestrian filled streets and squares with shoppers patronizing the local boutiques and street vendors.
HIDDEN GARDENS
Haarlem has many hidden courtyards (hofjes) with gardens often unbeknownst to the tourists, where locals go to relax for peace and quiet. Many of the gardens were built in medieval times for lower status citizens. Several of these courtyards are open to the public through somewhat hidden narrow doorways or gates.
ARCHEOLOGISCH MUSEUM
The Archeologisch Museum was opened in 1991 featuring local artifacts from Haarlem. The museum is located in the cellar of the 17th century Vleeshal building on Grote Markt and is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday from 13:00 to 17:00. Admission is free.
