Haarlem is a classically beautiful city filled with historic buildings and churches alongside modern shops, bars and cafés. Its excellent location close to the coast and Amsterdam means it makes a great base for a Netherlands vacation.
Historic Haarlem
Haarlem is not a large city, but it still fits in plenty to see and do. One of its most popular attractions is the Grote Kerk, also known as St Bavokerk. This magnificent building is home to the famous Müller organ, which covers its west wall and was once played by a young Mozart. You can also admire its Renaissance artworks and stained-glass windows, before heading across the street to the Vleeshal, a historic market building that today houses a fascinating modern and contemporary art museum.
This area of the city, known as the Grote Markt, is home to a regular market on Saturday and Monday. Here you can join locals and tourists as they browse the stalls for Dutch delicacies such as cheese and preserves, as well as exploring the vintage stalls for clothing and antiques.
Haarlem is also an important center for the world-famous Dutch flower trade. Make a beeline for the Keukenhof gardens in Lisse just a few miles south of the city, where in the spring you can see rows of beautiful tulips coming into bloom.
Beach vibes
Close to the coast, Haarlem is ideal if you want to catch some seaside sun. One of the resorts closest to the city is Bloemendaal, a trendy beach area where you’ll find a cool selection of cafés and clubs and beach bars where live bands and DJs perform.
This part of the coast is also home to Thijsse’s Hof, a wildlife garden with hundreds of species of native plants. And, of course, its sandy beach is a great place to relax and soak up some sun.
A day in Amsterdam
If you have some spare time during your visit to Haarlem, a trip to the Dutch capital is a must. Amsterdam has a reputation as one of the most charming cities in Europe, with its distinctive canals surrounded by magnificent town houses and a peaceful, relaxed way of life.
There’s so much to see and do that it’s almost impossible to fit it into one visit, but a great place to start is by exploring its canals. Visit Reguliersgracht where you can see the famous view of seven bridges or enjoy an evening visit to the beautifully illuminated Magere Brug over the river Amstel. You can also take a boat tour of the canals to learn more about this unique city and its heritage.
Other highlights in Amsterdam include the Rijksmuseum, where you can see iconic works of art such as Rembrandt’s Night Watch. Perhaps the most famous Dutch artist of them all, Vincent van Gogh, has his own dedicated museum where you can see Sunflowers and other major pieces.
If you’re more of a sports fan, it’s just a short drive out of the city to the Johan Cruijff Arena, formerly the Amsterdam Arena, where you can take a tour to learn all about the Dutch soccer club Ajax. Renting a car for your visit to Haarlem makes it possible to explore all this and more at your own pace.