Visiting Haarlem: What to Do
- Anna
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Often labelled as the ”mini-Amsterdam”, Haarlem is a small beautiful city as charming as Amsterdam, but without its sometimes exhausting crowd. Perfect for a day trip! In this article, I compile a list of activities to do and places to eat, from someone who has lived there for over two years!
Main Attractions
One of the most well known things about the Netherlands is the infinite number of windmills in the country. Haarlem is home to one of the most well known one, called Molen de Adriaan. Located near the Centraal Station, the historic windmill organized tours in which you can learn about it. Near the windmill is the oldest museum in the Netherlands, the Teylers musem.
Head closer to the heart of the city, and you will find the Grote Markt. It is home to the Grote Kerk, a huge cathedral, and the city hall. As a bonus, visit the square on a Saturday; there is a market with delicious and a selection of varied food.
Inside the centre, you will find numerous beautiful and quaint courtyards, known as the Hofjes. They hold a major historical significance in the city and are absolutely gorgeous. Finally, in the south of the city centre is the Frans Hals Museum, home to famous Dutch paintings. In addition, I highly recommend walking in the streets around the museum; they are particularly beautiful!
Recommended Bars, Cafes, and Food Places
Frietkamer: offers the most delicious fries I’ve eaten
Het Broodjes: THE best sandwiches in town
Jopen: A church turned into a bar. Home to delicious local beers
Tierney’s Irish Pub: I highly recommend their cheesesteak
Jippies Cat Cafe: for animal lovers, home to adorable cats
De Broodmand: my personal favorite cafe. It has excellent pastries and a cute vintage interior
Maeva: a super underrated cafe with excellent coffee and chai latte
Natural Attractions
Craving a more peaceful and natural trip? The Frederiskpark, located south of the city centre, is a beautiful and idyllic park, perfect to relax in. It has a deer petting zoo and a traditionally Dutch cafe, De Theehuis de Haarlemerhout.
Another must-see natural attraction is the Zuid Kennemerland National Park. Reachable via bus 81 from the main station, it is well known for its unique dunes and being home to wild animals, such as bison. Due to its huge size, I would recommend booking an entire day to visit it!
Conclusion
I hope this inspires you to visit Haarlem; it is such as cozy city rich with character and history. Don’t miss out!
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