Haarlem
Updated October 19, 2026
Also known as: Spaarnestad, Bloemenstad, City of Flowers
Main Landmarks in Haarlem
Grote Markt and Great Church of St Bavo
The Grote Markt, Haarlem's main square, one of the most beautiful in the Netherlands, is surrounded by the City Hall, the Vleeshal, a 17th-century meat hall, and cafés, and dominated by the Great Church of St Bavo, built from about 1370 to 1520, with a Gothic interior, a famous Müller organ played by Mozart and the tomb of Frans Hals. Entry to the church costs about €3–5. Organ concerts are held regularly. Visit the Saturday market on the square, and sit on a terrace.
Frans Hals Museum
The Frans Hals Museum, in a 17th-century almshouse for elderly men, displays the world's largest collection of works by Frans Hals, the Golden Age portrait painter, including group portraits of the civic guards and regents, as well as works by other Haarlem painters and modern art at a second location, the Hal. Tickets cost about €18–20. Allow about two hours. It is closed on Mondays. Book online. The building's courtyard garden is beautiful. Allow extra time in the high season.
Teylers Museum
The Teylers Museum, opened in 1784 on the Spaarne, is the oldest museum in the Netherlands, with the Oval Room, almost unchanged since the 18th century, fossils, minerals, scientific instruments, coins and drawings by Michelangelo, Raphael and Rembrandt, displayed in original wooden cabinets. Tickets cost about €17–19. Allow about two hours. It is closed on Mondays. It feels like stepping into the Age of Enlightenment. Allow extra time in the high season. Check opening hours before you go. Comfortable shoes are recommended.
Molen De Adriaan
Molen De Adriaan, a windmill on the Spaarne River, originally built in 1779, burned down in 1932 and rebuilt in 2002, is one of the symbols of Haarlem. Visitors can climb inside on guided tours, about 30 minutes, to see how the mill works, step onto the balcony for views over the city and the river, and learn about the history of windmills. Tickets cost about €6–8. It is open most days. Visit in the afternoon, and photograph it from across the river.
Hofjes
Haarlem's hofjes are almshouses built around hidden courtyard gardens, founded from the 14th century to house elderly women, with about 20 surviving, such as the Hofje van Bakenes, the oldest in the Netherlands, the Proveniershof and the Hofje van Loo. Many are still inhabited, and visitors can enter quietly, usually on weekdays and Saturdays, from about 10:00 to 17:00. Entry is free. Pick up a hofjes walking map, keep quiet and respect residents' privacy. Allow extra time in the high season.
Corrie ten Boom House
The Corrie ten Boom House, at Barteljorisstraat 19, is the former home and watch shop of the ten Boom family, who hid Jews and resistance members in a secret room behind a false wall during the Second World War, before being arrested in 1944. Free guided tours, about one hour, in English and Dutch, show the hiding place and tell the family's story. Tours must be booked online in advance, as places are limited. Donations are welcome. It is a moving visit.
Amsterdamse Poort
The Amsterdamse Poort, the Amsterdam Gate, built around 1400, is the only remaining city gate of Haarlem, on the road to Amsterdam, with towers and a moat on the Spaarne River. It was part of the medieval walls that defended the city during the Spanish siege of 1572–1573. It is not open inside, but it can be admired from outside. Entry is free. Walk there along the Spaarne from the centre, about 15 minutes, and combine it with Molen De Adriaan.
Kennemerland National Park and Zandvoort
The Kennemerland National Park, west of Haarlem, has dunes, forests, lakes and wildlife, such as Scottish Highland cattle, wild horses and European bison, with walking and cycling trails. Zandvoort, about 10 minutes by train, has a long sandy beach, beach clubs and the Circuit Zandvoort, home of the Dutch Formula 1 Grand Prix. Entry to the park and beach is free. Rent a bike in Haarlem, cycle through the dunes to the beach, and watch the sunset over the North Sea.
History
Haarlem, on the Spaarne River, about 20 km west of Amsterdam, near the North Sea coast, grew in the 10th century on a sandy ridge, a strand wall, and it became the residence of the Counts of Holland, receiving city rights in 1245 from Count William II. In the Middle Ages, it was one of the largest and most important cities of Holland, known for brewing, textiles and shipbuilding. According to legend, during the Fifth Crusade, in 1219, ships from Haarlem broke the chain across the harbour of Damietta, in Egypt, which is commemorated in the city's bells, the damiaatjes, rung each evening. During the Dutch Revolt, Haarlem was besieged by Spanish troops from December 1572 to July 1573, and its citizens, including women led by Kenau Simonsdochter Hasselaer, resisted for seven months before surrendering. In the 17th century, Haarlem flourished in the Golden Age, with painters such as Frans Hals, Jacob van Ruisdael and Judith Leyster, and it was the centre of the tulip trade during tulip mania in 1636–1637. The Teylers Museum, the oldest museum in the Netherlands, opened in 1784. In 1839 the first railway in the Netherlands connected Haarlem with Amsterdam. Haarlem is the capital of North Holland. Today about 165,000 people live in the city.
Culture
Haarlem is a charming, relaxed city, often described as a smaller, quieter and more authentic version of Amsterdam, with a historic centre of canals, gabled houses, cobbled streets, independent shops and cafés. It has a long artistic tradition, as the city of Frans Hals, the Golden Age portrait painter, whose works are displayed in the Frans Hals Museum, and it remains a city of culture, with theatres, galleries and festivals. Haarlem is known for its hofjes, almshouses built around hidden courtyard gardens, about 20 of which survive, founded from the 14th century to house elderly women, many still inhabited and open to visitors who respect the quiet. The city has a strong connection to flowers, as it lies at the edge of the Bollenstreek, the bulb-growing region, and the Flower Parade, Bloemencorso, passes through in April. Shopping is a highlight, with the Grote Houtstraat and independent boutiques in the Negen Straatjes area, and Haarlem has been voted one of the best shopping cities in the Netherlands. The Saturday market on the Grote Markt, with food, flowers and goods, is a local tradition. Haarlem is also known for its beer, with the Jopen brewery, in a former church, reviving the city's medieval brewing tradition. The beach at Zandvoort and the dunes of the Kennemerland National Park are close by.
Climate
Spring
3–16°C
March to May brings mild, changeable weather, with days of about 10–16°C, sunshine and showers, and the bulb fields betw…
Summer
12–22°C
June to August is mild, with days of about 19–22°C, sea breezes and occasional rain. The beach at Zandvoort, about 10 mi…
Autumn
6–17°C
September to November brings cooler days of about 10–17°C, more rain and wind, and colourful leaves in the parks and dun…
Winter
0–7°C
December to February is cool and damp, with days of about 5–7°C and nights around 1°C. The Christmas market on the Grote…
Fun Facts
An organ played by Mozart
The Great Church of St Bavo, Grote Kerk, on the Grote Markt, has one of the most famous organs in the world, the Müller …
The oldest museum in the Netherlands
The Teylers Museum, opened in 1784, is the oldest museum in the Netherlands, founded with the fortune of Pieter Teyler v…
Bells that recall a crusade
Every evening, between 21:00 and 21:30, the bells of the Great Church of St Bavo, called damiaatjes, ring, commemorating…
Hidden courtyard gardens
Haarlem has about 20 hofjes, almshouses built around hidden courtyard gardens, founded from the 14th century by wealthy …
The first railway in the Netherlands
On 20 September 1839, the first railway in the Netherlands opened between Haarlem and Amsterdam, about 17 km long, with …
A family that hid Jews during the war
The Corrie ten Boom House, at Barteljorisstraat 19, was the home of the ten Boom family, watchmakers, who hid Jews and m…
Local Cuisine in Haarlem
Jopen Beer
Jopen, a brewery in a former church, the Jopenkerk, revives Haarlem's medieval brewing tradition, with beers based on old recipes, such as Koyt and Hoppen, and modern craft beers. The church has a bar and restaurant. A beer costs about €4–6. Try a tasting flight, and pair it with bitterballen.
Saturday Market Food
The Saturday market on the Grote Markt sells Dutch cheese, herring, kibbeling, stroopwafels, bread, fruit and flowers. A snack costs about €3–8. Try fresh kibbeling, fried fish with garlic sauce, or a warm stroopwafel, and buy cheese and flowers. The Monday market also takes place. Ask locals for their favourite place to try it.
Raw Herring
Hollandse Nieuwe, raw herring with onions and pickles, is sold at herring stalls in Haarlem, especially at the market, from June. It is eaten by holding it by the tail or in a bread roll. A herring costs about €3–5. Try it at a stall on the Grote Markt. Ask locals for their favourite place to try it.
Dutch Pancakes
Pancake houses in Haarlem serve pannenkoeken, large Dutch pancakes with sweet or savoury toppings, such as apple and cinnamon, bacon and cheese, and poffertjes, small fluffy pancakes with butter and powdered sugar. A pancake costs about €10–15. They are popular for lunch. Ask locals for their favourite place to try it.
Café Culture
Haarlem's cafés and brown cafés, especially on the Grote Markt and in the Botermarkt, serve coffee, apple pie, broodjes, sandwiches, and bitterballen, with terraces in summer. A coffee and apple pie cost about €7–10. Sit on a terrace facing the Great Church, and watch local life. Ask locals for their favourite place to try it.
Indonesian and International Food
Haarlem has restaurants serving Indonesian, Surinamese, Italian, Asian and modern Dutch cuisine, especially in the centre and the Lange Veerstraat. An Indonesian rijsttafel costs about €25–40 per person. The De Hallen area and the food hall, Lichtfabriek, have more options. Ask locals for their favourite place to try it. Portions are usually generous.
Practical Travel Information
Transport & Accessibility
International Transport
Haarlem has no airport. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is about 20–40 minutes away, by bus 300, about 40 minutes, or by train with a change, and by taxi about 20 minutes. Haarlem station, an Art Nouveau building, has frequent trains to Amsterdam, about 15 minutes, Leiden, The Hague, Rotterdam and Zandvoort, about 10 minutes. Long-distance trains to Belgium and Germany leave from Amsterdam or Schiphol. The R-net bus 300 is a fast bus connection to Schiphol. Check timetables in advance, especially on public holidays.
Local Transport
Haarlem's historic centre is compact and walkable, with most sights within about 10–15 minutes of the station. Cycling is popular, with bike rental and OV-fiets at the station, and bike routes to the beach, the dunes and the tulip fields. Connexxion buses connect Haarlem with the region and Schiphol, with payment by contactless bank card. Boat tours on the Spaarne show the city from the water. The centre is largely closed to cars, so park in garages on the edge. Taxis are available at the station.
Safety & Health
Personal Safety
Haarlem is a very safe city, with low crime rates. Normal precautions apply in crowded places, such as the Saturday market and the station, where pickpockets may operate. Bike theft is common, so lock your bike well. Watch for cyclists when walking, and do not walk in bike lanes. At Zandvoort beach, swim only where lifeguards are present, as the North Sea has strong currents. The cobbled streets can be slippery when wet. In an emergency, call 112. Most visits are trouble-free with basic precautions.
Medical Services
Haarlem has the Spaarne Gasthuis hospital, with an emergency department and English-speaking staff, and larger hospitals in Amsterdam, about 15 minutes away. For non-urgent care, visitors can see a general practitioner or use out-of-hours GP services. EU citizens can use the European Health Insurance Card, while others need travel insurance. Pharmacies are found in the centre. Tap water is excellent and safe to drink. Carry your insurance details and any personal medicines. Keep a small first-aid kit for day trips.
Budget & Costs
Travel Costs
Haarlem is cheaper than Amsterdam. A hostel bed costs about €30–55, a mid-range hotel €100–180 and a boutique hotel from €200 per night. A coffee and apple pie cost about €7–10, a lunch €10–16 and dinner in a mid-range restaurant €25–40 per person. A beer costs about €4–6. The train from Amsterdam costs about €4–5, the Frans Hals Museum €18–20, the Teylers Museum €17–19, St Bavo €3–5, Molen De Adriaan €6–8 and the Corrie ten Boom House is free. A mid-range traveller should budget about €110–170 per day.
Budget Tips
Stay in Haarlem instead of Amsterdam for lower hotel prices, and travel to Amsterdam by train. Use the Museumkaart for the Frans Hals and Teylers Museums. Visit free attractions, such as the hofjes, the Grote Markt, the Amsterdamse Poort and the Corrie ten Boom House, which is free with booking. Eat at the Saturday market. Rent a bike to visit the beach and tulip fields. Visit outside the tulip season for lower prices. Walking is free and often the best way to explore.
Culture & Traditions
Social Norms
People in Haarlem are friendly, relaxed and proud of their city. Greet people with a handshake or hallo. English is widely spoken. Respect residents when visiting the hofjes, keeping quiet and not entering private areas. Do not walk in bike lanes. Tipping is not obligatory, but rounding up or leaving about 5–10% is appreciated. Do not walk into private tulip fields, as it damages the flowers and is forbidden. Respect the churches, which are still in use. A few words of the local language are always appreciated.
Cultural Activities
Visit the Frans Hals Museum and the Teylers Museum. Attend an organ concert in St Bavo. Explore the hofjes. Visit the Corrie ten Boom House. Shop in the Negen Straatjes and the Grote Houtstraat. Taste beer at the Jopenkerk. Watch the Flower Parade in April. Celebrate King's Day on the Grote Markt. Attend Haarlem Jazz and More in summer. Visit the Christmas market. Cycle to the tulip fields in spring. Check local listings for free events during your stay. Ask your hotel about seasonal festivals.
Unique Experiences in Haarlem
Explore Haarlem's hidden hofjes, almshouses built around peaceful courtyard gardens, such as the Hofje van Bakenes, the oldest in the Netherlands, on a self-guided walk. Entry is free. Visit on a weekday or Saturday between about 10:00 and 17:00, and keep quiet to respect residents.
Attend an organ concert in the Great Church of St Bavo, hearing the Müller organ, with about 5,000 pipes, played by Mozart at the age of 10. Concerts cost about €5–15, with some free. Check the schedule, especially in summer, and stay for the damiaatjes bells in the evening.
Cycle from Haarlem through the bulb fields of the Bollenstreek in April, past rows of tulips, hyacinths and daffodils, to the Keukenhof gardens, and watch the Flower Parade. Bike rental costs about €12–15 per day. Visit in mid to late April, and do not walk into the fields.
Taste beer at the Jopenkerk, a brewery and bar in a former church, with beers based on medieval Haarlem recipes, under stained glass windows. Beers cost about €4–6, with tasting flights available. Visit in the evening, and have dinner in the restaurant upstairs.
Cycle through the dunes of the Kennemerland National Park, spotting wild horses, Highland cattle and bison, to the beach at Zandvoort, and watch the sunset over the North Sea. Bike rental costs about €12–15 per day. Bring a jacket for the wind, and a picnic.
Travel Recommendations for Haarlem
Stay in Haarlem as a quieter, cheaper alternative to Amsterdam, about 15 minutes away by train, with easy access to the …
Visit in April to see the tulip fields of the Bollenstreek, the Keukenhof gardens and the Flower Parade, but book accomm…
Explore the hofjes, Haarlem's hidden courtyard gardens, on a walking route, and respect the residents by keeping quiet. …
Combine Haarlem's two great museums, the Frans Hals Museum and the Teylers Museum, using the Museumkaart, and book the f…
Rent a bike to cycle through the dunes of the Kennemerland National Park to Zandvoort beach, especially on a sunny day, …