things to do in Haarlem

things to do in haarlem
Haarlem, a hospitable city with a historic heart
. Take a relaxing trip by e-bike and discover this great city! Haarlem is one of the most beautiful old cities in the Netherlands. It is a delightful, safe city with ca. 150,000 inhabitants. One of the city’s tallest landmarks, the striking tower of Grote of Sint Bavokerk (St Bavo’s Church), is visible for miles around. Haarlem lies on the river Spaarne and has a beautiful historic city centre with many attractions including the Frans Hals Museum and Teylers Museum. There is a wide range of cafés and restaurants in the cosy city centre. And you will find a surprising number of specialist and trendy shops in the side streets of the main shopping streets. Haarlem is sometimes called the most Flemish city of the North. The monuments created by city master builder Lieven de Key and the large number of places to eat and drink give the city a southern feel.

There are many things to do in Haarlem and its surroundings. Let us advise you.

Corrie ten Boomhuis
The home of Corrie ten Boom is now a museum! It is perfectly situated in the center of the beautiful old city of Haarlem, Holland. (Haarlem is a 15 minute train ride west of Amsterdam.) Much of the house has been refurbished to appear as it did in the 1940’s. Visitors can see the actual “hiding place,” which is a small area behind a false wall in Corrie’s bedroom. This is where Jews and others were safely hidden from the Nazis. The museum also contains a book shop. The Corrie ten Boom House is located at 19 Barteljorisstraat, Haarlem.

Het Dolhuys
Psychiatry is a lively topic. One in four Dutch people are affected by a mental problem. This does not mean we are any crazier than the rest of the world. We all know someone affected by depression, burnout or Alzheimer’s. Thanks to mental health care taking up a more prominent position in society, people with psychiatric problems have become a more noticeable presence in everyday life. Yet still not enough is known about psychiatry and people with psychiatric problems often face prejudice. We would like to encourage our visitors to think about the boundary between crazy and normal and question the representations of ‘madness’.

Het Teylers museum Teylers Museum is the Netherlands’ first and oldest museum, open to the public since 1784. Unique to this museum is the historical presentation of its collections, largely unchanged since the late 18th and 19th centuries. As a whole, the building and the collections are a monument to two centuries of cultural history. The 18th-century ensemble is wholly unique. A visit to Teylers Museum is a like voyage through time, a voyage of discovery in the world of art and science. A stroll through the museum takes you from fossils and minerals to prints and drawings and paintings, from scientific instruments to coins and medals.

From Haarlem we have a splendid nature lovers route for you which brings you via the national parc Zuid-Kennemerland to the centre of Haarlem or the other way to the coast. You can explore Haarlem on your own or you can ask us for a city guide. As from 4 persons you can book a town walk with a guide.

Haarlem is an ideal operating base for bicycle excursions in the surroundings. For each season there are beautiful bicycle routes available.

Do you want to stay for a weekend ask us for our recommendations. We will bring the bikes to your hotel.

Contact us to find out more!.