Location: Haarlem
Top Things to do in Haarlem
Top 10 Things to do in Haarlem, North Holland Province
Though often overshadowed (especially for tourists) by its much larger and more famous neighbor Amsterdam about ten miles east, Haarlem’s history actually goes back further. And with about 150,000 people, it’s the capital of the Noord-Holland region. The Teylers Museum, with its unique collection of art and artifacts, is the oldest museum in the Netherlands. The fantastic Frans Hals Museum has many works by the artist and other Haarlem schoolers. Grote Markt, the main town square, is a must-see.
Restaurants in Haarlem
1. Frans Hals Museum - Hof
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,097 reviews
The Frans Hals Museum and De Hallen Haarlem came together to form the renewed Frans Hals Museum: one museum at two locations. Where old meets new. Historical works hang alongside contemporary installations, and the Golden Age sits alongside the modern day. The meeting of Old Masters and contemporary art lets you look in a different way and see more.
Reviewed By JohnH881 - Shelburne, United States
The Frans Hals Museum is worth the short travel from Amsterdam. There are two sites, The Frans Hals Museum about five minutes walk from the Great Market Place and the "De Hallen Haarlem" Museum on the Market Place. Both are accessible with the same ticket. The first contains many of Hals' masterpieces as well as a supporting cast of other Dutch Masters which are related in some way. The museum is seasonally decorated with flowers (23.5-2.6.19) which are particularly beautiful and add immensely to the artistic atmosphere of the museum. The De Hallen Museum, is housed in a beautiful Dutch building on the Market Place and contains a variety of contemporary artists' works. An effort has been made to tie these works to those of Hals and his contemporaries. The inside has been artfully modernized and is worth a visit just for its architectural merits.
2. Teylers Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,049 reviews
Anyone who opens the museum's heavy door on the bank of the River Spaarne sees at a glance what it is that inspires such enthusiasm. The museum breathes the atmosphere of the 18th and 19th centuries - the Age of the Enlightenment - when people were busily gathering knowledge about the world. Teylers Museum, museum of wonder, is a world in itself, one that you will never forget. Teylers Museum is the best-preserved 18th-century public knowledge institution for the arts and sciences in the world. It has been open to the public since 1784, welcoming all those who are eager to look at paintings and drawings by the Old Masters, magnificent minerals, ingenious scientific instruments, precious books, and centuries-old fossils. The museum's interior alone, with the monumental Oval Room as pièce de resistance, is a truly remarkable attraction. It is the only authentic 18th-century museum interior in the world.
Reviewed By Yolalindsay - Brooklyn, United States
Definitely worth a stop if you have some time in Haarlem! Lots of natural history here, as well as major scientific advancements - really a cool little museum with a GREAT audio guide. I think if you were very interested in geology or archaeology, you could spend a very long time here.
3. Sint-Bavokerk (Church of St. Bavo)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,085 reviews
Reviewed By Buddy_from_Oz - Greater Adelaide, Australia
If you're in Haarlem, don't miss a visit to St Bavokerk. Stunning architecture, fascinating history and a visually impressive organ played by both Mozart and Handel - and, surprisingly, mentioned in Herman Melville's Moby Dick. This was also the local church of Corrie ten Boom who, with her family, secretly helped many Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust. The ten Boom museum is a few minutes walk away.
4. The Corrie ten Boom House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 969 reviews
Reviewed By Dahlke8 - La Vernia, United States
The Ten Boom family’s incredible sacrifice to help the Jewish people and the Dutch Resistance during WWII is carefully preserved and retold by passionate and caring guides! Dina introduced us to the Ten Boom’s, their incredible faith in Christ, and then walked us through their home, to include the Hiding Place. This is a must visit, as is the beautiful town of Haarlem, if you are in Amsterdam.
5. Molen De Adriaan Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 546 reviews
Reviewed By TheGoodShag
This was great. A tour around a working windmill with a very enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide. Lots of info not only about this windmill but also other windmills in The Netherlands. Don't miss itt.
6. Grote Markt
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,190 reviews
Reviewed By springlering - Marietta, United States
We have been in Haarlem for several days, and have visited the Square each day. Our own home has a classic town square, and we’ve grown to appreciate how they change character each visit, as does this one. Surrounded by excellent shopping, quaint streets and alleys, with a stunning church and historic buildings, there are nice restaurants to hang out at, a bustling Saturday market, and for those of you who might share our secret vice, lots of Pokestops to hold your interest. The VVV (tourist information) on the square has several nice brochures featuring historic or memorial walks. Or (and this is the nuttiest tourist tip you’ll ever get) download Pokemon (a free app). Real world locations (or “Pokestops”) are points of interest that locals have added to the game. Particularly in Haarlem, we’ve found all kinds of local buildings, small statues, architectural features and more unique and easy to miss features and oddities we never would have noticed had other players not flagged them on the easy to follow 3D map that is part of the game. Pop into St Bavo’s and see if you are lucky enough to catch an organ rehearsal or concert. The little visitors center next to the big visitors center has a beautifully produced film with a history of Haarlem that is worth seeing.
7. Cathedral of Saint Bavo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 346 reviews
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Bavo (New Bavo) was designed by J.Th. Cuypers and built in the period from 1895 to 1930. The Cathedral Basilica is based on the classic form of a three-aisled basilica with chapels along the aisles and chapels along the choir. Because construction took a lot of time and a period of lack of funds in the diocese building temporarily brought, Cuypers was given the opportunity to present his designs several adjustments during construction and perform. The building therefore has an eclectic style, mainly neo-Romanesque and neo-Gothic elements alongside Moorish and Assyrian ornament shapes and influences of Art Nouveau and the architect H. P. Berlage. Recently artworks of Jan Dibbets, Gijs Frieling and Marc Mulders were added to the interior. Without doubt a very special building. Activities at this monument: KathedraalMuseum, Willibrord Organ plus periodically vault tours and climbing the towers.
Reviewed By Calgarytraveller2 - Calgary, Canada
We enjoyed touring the church during the day and then were lucky enough to return in the evening for a free organ recital - wonderful to hear this powerful organ in such a gorgeous setting and the sound resonance was great. It was also really cool to think about Mozart playing on this organ back in the day!
8. Hofjeswandeling in Haarlem
9. Haarlem Railway Station
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 104 reviews
Reviewed By LizardJ123 - Leidschendam, The Netherlands
The station in Haarlem is an Art Deco delight. It still has many beautiful architectural features including the signs for the three waiting rooms. It’s gorgeous. It also makes the wait very interesting. I am sure commuters forget to see their surroundings here.
10. Museum Van de Geest
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 176 reviews
The Dolhuys is situated in a unique medieval building: the former lepers-, plague and madhouse. For years the building lay outside the city walls of Haarlem, sheltering the ‘insane’ and people with contagious diseases such as plague and leprosy. Go back in time and visit one of the very few remaining isolation chambers in Europe, dating from the 16th century. What does it feel like to be locked away in such a dark and confided space? In this historical building, you will get to peek inside the minds of artists, writers and scientists, sometimes with a disability or mental illness. You will meet people who function differently. Be inspired by the surprising stories about their lives and be aware of the value of deviant behavior. Visit, meet and allow yourself to wonder about what is normal. Are you normal?
