Visit Haarlem
You made it to the city that gave **New York** its most famous neighborhood name. Haarlem feels like a calm and refined version of the capital. Walk over to the **Grote Markt** where the massive **St. Bavokerk** dominates the view. This church houses a pipe organ once played by a young Mozart. The sound still fills the high ceilings during summer recitals. If you look at the floor you see gravestones of famous painters like Frans Hals who spent his life capturing local faces. To see his true mastery walk to the **Frans Hals Museum**. It is set in a former almshouse where his giant group portraits of civic guards still hang in their original glory. The streets here are a maze of **Gouden Straatjes** or Golden Streets. These alleys are packed with tiny boutiques and concept stores. For a quiet break find one of the **hofjes**. These are hidden courtyards built for elderly women in the 1300s. They are peaceful pockets of green behind heavy wooden doors. You can almost hear the rustle of silk from the city days as a textile giant when it produced the finest linen in Europe. For a dash of science visit the **Teylers Museum** along the Spaarne river. It is the oldest museum in the country and looks like a temple of the Enlightenment. Inside you find fossils and old machines kept in beautiful wooden cabinets under a stunning glass dome. Before you get back to your car grab a local beer. Haarlem was once a brewing powerhouse with over 100 breweries. Stop at **Jopenkerk** which is a craft brewery inside an old church. They use recipes from the 1400s to bring the past back to life. It is the perfect spot to plan your next stretch of road while watching the copper kettles gleam under the stained glass windows. If you have time take a quick stroll to the **Molen de Adriaan**. This windmill sits right on the water and offers a great view of the city skyline. It serves as a perfect final photo stop before you head back to the highway.Top sights to visit
The best places to visit in Haarlem
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Best match
Hotel
Historic City Hotel
Design hotel · City Centre · Free bikes
from€195/night
Hotel
Canal View Suites
Boutique suites · Waterfront · Breakfast included
from€245/night
Museum
Museum
National History Museum
Art & culture · City Centre · Guided tours
from€18/person
Spa
Spa
Wellness & Spa Centre
Thermal baths · Art Deco · City centre
from€35/session
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History of Haarlem
Before Amsterdam became a global giant Haarlem was the true powerhouse of **North Holland**. During the 14th century it was the second largest city in the region and grew wealthy through a massive **textile industry** and over one hundred active breweries. The city was a center of innovation where **Laurens Janszoon Coster** allegedly invented the printing press even before Gutenberg. This industrial spirit turned the city into a magnet for the greatest painters of the **Dutch Golden Age** who came here to capture the faces of the new elite. The city is perhaps best known for its incredible resilience during the **Dutch Revolt** against Spain. In 1572 the citizens held off a massive Spanish army for seven months during a brutal winter siege. Legend tells of **Kenau Simonsdochter Hasselaer** a fearless woman who led an army of three hundred women to defend the city walls with boiling liquids and stones. Although the city eventually fell their bravery became a symbol of national hope and helped turn the tide of the war for **Dutch independence**. In the 17th century the city became the global epicenter of **Tulip Mania** where the price of a single bulb could cost more than a canal house. Traders gathered in local taverns to bet their fortunes on the rarest colors and patterns of the flower. While the market eventually crashed the love for flowers remained and turned the surrounding region into the famous **Bulb District**. Today the city stands as a refined masterpiece of history where medieval grit meets the elegance of the Enlightenment.Stay in the loop
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