what to do in haarlem

visit the historic city centre

In the center of Haarlem you will find the historic city center. It is very cozy and very beautiful. Right in the middle of the city is the Grote Markt, a square surrounded by beautiful buildings, where fun activities are organized all year round and here is the lively weekly market on Saturdays. Haarlem’s most famous church is also located on this square. The Grote Kerk or St Bavo, this church dates from the 14th century and is built in Gothic style. It is a beautiful building with a rich history. From Monday to Saturday, the church is open to the public from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Church services take place here on Sundays.

shopping

If you like shopping, you are at the right place in Haarlem! Haarlem has been voted the best shopping city in the Netherlands and this is certainly true. You can find everything you are looking for here, from second-hand clothing stores, to luxury home improvement stores, concept stores and large retail chains such as H&M and Zara. The most famous shopping streets are the Golden Streets. In these picturesque cozy streets you will find nice surprising boutiques and you can drink delicious coffee in nice hip coffee bars.

visit the musea

Haarlem has a number of special and very popular museums; such as the Frans Hals museum, named after the famous painter. Here you can admire some of his beautiful paintings. Or the Teylers Museum, here you can view art and science objects since 1784. Then there is the Dolhuys, this special museum portrays man in all its facets. For the history of Haarlem you can go to the Archeological Museum, this museum is even underground. With the museum annual pass you have access to all these museums. You can also visit museums and some attractions for free with the Holland Pass.

hidden courtyards

Haarlem is a beautiful city and has a rich history. To experience this and visit special places, it is best to book a city walk. At Mey Tour guide Yumee takes you to unexpected places in the city and tells you all the information and extra details that only a local knows. There are 20 courtyards in Haarlem, but a number of them hide in narrow streets and behind modest gates so that they are not easy to find. By taking a city tour you will visit places that you will not otherwise see and you will learn everything about the history of this special city.

visit the keukenhof

Keukenhof is a flower park northwest of Lisse, in the Dutch province of South Holland, where bulbs from horticultural companies from the bulb region are exhibited every year in the spring. Founded in 1949, the park covers 32 hectares and attracts more than a million visitors from all over the world every year.

Formule 1 GP Zandvoort

The Grand Prix of the Netherlands is a Formula 1 race that was held thirty times between 1952 and 1985.

After an absence of 36 years, the race is planned to return in 2021.