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.

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.

The canals in Holland are unique and listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The canals connect major cities and towns throughout the Netherlands and plays a major role for tourism and the economy. Download a portion of the Holland canal map network in pdf format.

Take an open boat canal tour and cruise the river Spaarne and Haarlem's oldest canal, the Bakenessergracht.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.