Explore Haarlem

Haarlem is a city outside of Amsterdam in the northwest Netherlands. Once a major North Sea trading port surrounded by a defensive wall, it retains its medieval character of cobblestone streets and gabled houses. It's the center of a major flower-bulb-growing district, and famous for its outlying tulip fields, art museums and hofjes (almshouses built around leafy courtyards). ― Google

🗓️ Best Time to Visit Haarlem

  • April to May 🌷

    • Tulip season! Visit nearby Keukenhof Gardens and Bloemencorso flower parade

    • Ideal for day trips, bike rides, and garden visits

  • June to September ☀️

    • Warm and lively, perfect for walking the city, open-air dining, and summer festivals

  • October to March ❄️

    • Quieter, great for museums and cozy cafés; festive atmosphere in December

✈️ How to Get to Haarlem

✈️ By Air

  • Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) – 20–30 minutes by train or car

🚆 By Train

  • 15–20 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal

  • Regular connections to Leiden, The Hague, and Zandvoort

🚗 By Car

  • Easy access from A9 motorway

  • Several central parking garages or park-and-ride options

📍 Top Attractions in Haarlem

🏛️ Frans Hals Museum

  • Dedicated to Haarlem’s Golden Age portrait painter Frans Hals

  • Stunning collection of 17th-century Dutch art and culture

Grote Kerk (St. Bavo's Church)

  • Majestic Gothic church in Grote Markt square

  • Houses a famous Müller organ once played by Mozart and Handel

🌷 Keukenhof Gardens (spring only)

  • One of the world’s most beautiful flower gardens, ~25 minutes away

  • Combine with bike tours through tulip fields

🖼️ Teylers Museum

  • Oldest museum in the Netherlands — a fascinating blend of art, fossils, and scientific instruments

🛍️ Grote Markt & Shopping Streets

  • Central square surrounded by historic buildings, cafés, and boutiques

  • Explore Gouden Straatjes (Golden Streets) for local shopping

🎯 Activities To Do

  • Take a canal cruise or rent a boat in summer

  • Bike to the beach at Zandvoort aan Zee or Bloemendaal (30–45 min ride)

  • Explore Haarlemmerhout, the oldest public park in the Netherlands

  • Visit Corrie ten Boom House, a WWII hiding place and museum

  • Enjoy local beer tasting at Jopenkerk — a brewery inside a former church

🏨 Accommodation

Luxury

  • Brasss Hotel Suites – spacious, stylish, and centrally located

  • Hotel ML – elegant design with an in-house brasserie

Mid-Range

  • Amrâth Grand Hotel Frans Hals – great location near Grote Markt

  • Boutiquehotel Staats – trendy and colorful boutique experience

Budget

  • Hello I'm Local – stylish, social hostel with private rooms and dorms

  • Hotel Carillon – basic but well-located and budget-friendly

🍽️ Food & Restaurant Recommendations

Local Favorites

  • Jopenkerk – iconic craft brewery and gastropub

  • Specktakel – global fusion cuisine with rotating seasonal menus

  • By Lima – organic café perfect for brunch and fresh juices

  • DeDAKKAS – rooftop greenhouse restaurant with city views

  • Fishbar Monk – modern seafood dining by the canal

Street Treats & Markets

  • Try Dutch stroopwafels, herring, and local cheeses

  • Saturday market on Grote Markt is full of fresh produce and delicacies

🧿 Local Culture

  • Haarlem was a Dutch Golden Age hub of painting and publishing

  • It’s a city that blends artistic heritage with laid-back living

  • Residents love cycling, outdoor cafés, and supporting local shops and culture

  • Haarlem has a more local feel than Amsterdam, with fewer crowds and friendlier pace

  • Strong connection to tulip cultivation history and annual Bloemencorso parade