Before you go

Your trip to Haarlem.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Haarlem – Holanda Setentrional Destination Around Amsterdã Capital

How to get there

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) Haarlemmermeer · 18 km
Station Haarlem 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Check before you buy. From Schiphol airport, the station inside the terminal has trains to Haarlem. From Amsterdam Centraal, NS trains take about 15 minutes and run several times an hour. Haarlem station is about a ten-minute walk from the Grote Markt.

How many days

One day is enough for the Grote Markt, the Saint Bavo church, one of the two major museums and a walk through the hofjes. With two days you can include the second museum, the De Adriaan mill, the Corrie ten Boom house (guided visit with reservation) and an afternoon at Zandvoort beach.

When to go

From April to September the days are longer and café tables fill the Grote Markt. Organ concerts at the Saint Bavo church usually run from late May to early October. Zandvoort fills with bathers in July and August. In winter it's cold, windy and gets dark early, but museums remain open; dinner is typically early, from around 6 p.m.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

No. The centre is compact and can be explored on foot, and the train links Haarlem with Amsterdam, Schiphol and Zandvoort. The bicycle (fiets) is residents' everyday transport; when walking, don't stand on the bike lanes, which are usually red.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Haarlem

Morning
Grote Markt and the church of São Bavão
From the station, walk to the Grote Markt. See the town hall and the statue of Laurens Janszoon Coster, and enter the Grote of Sint-Bavokerk to see the Gothic nave and the Müller organ from the 18th century.
Afternoon
Frans Hals Museum or Teylers Museum
Choose one of the two museums: Frans Hals's group portraits at the Groot Heiligland, or the Oval Room, fossils and drawings at the Teylers on the banks of the Spaarne. Both are a few minutes' walk from the square.
Late afternoon
Hofjes and the De Adriaan windmill
Pass by the Hofje van Bakenes and the Proveniershof, quiet courtyards in the heart of the centre, and follow the Spaarne to the De Adriaan windmill to view it from outside on the riverbank.
Evening
Dinner in the center
Dine early on the streets around the Grote Markt and the Lange Veerstraat. Restaurants usually start serving from 18:00.

2 days in Haarlem

Day 1

Morning
Grote Markt and São Bavão
Start at the main square and the Grote of Sint-Bavokerk, with the organ on which Händel and the young Mozart played.
Afternoon
Frans Hals Museum
Afternoon at the city's art museum, in a former 17th-century almshouse, with militia and regent portraits painted by Frans Hals.
Late afternoon
Central hofjes
Walk through the courtyards of former charitable houses, such as the Hofje van Bakenes, the city's oldest, and the Proveniershof on the Grote Houtstraat. Enter quietly: the houses are inhabited.
Evening
Night at the Grote Markt
Dinner and a walk around the lit square, with the church tower in the background.

Day 2

Morning
Teylers Museum
Morning at the country's oldest museum, opened in 1784, with scientific instruments, fossils and master drawings.
Afternoon
Corrie ten Boom Huis and De Adriaan
Take the guided tour of the Ten Boom family house, booked in advance, and then climb the De Adriaan windmill to see the Spaarne from the balcony.
Late afternoon
Zandvoort beach
Take the train to Zandvoort aan Zee, about ten minutes away, and walk on the sand and the promenade by the North Sea.
Evening
Return to Haarlem
Dine at one of Zandvoort's beach restaurants or return by train to Haarlem to eat in the centre.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

How long is the train from Amsterdam to Haarlem?

About 15 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal, with departures several times an hour. You can pay for the ticket with a contactless card at the gate (OVpay system); check whether your card is accepted.

Is Haarlem a good base for visiting Amsterdam?

Yes. The train is fast and frequent, and Haarlem has a small, quiet centre with restaurants and hotels within walking distance of the station. It's also close to Schiphol and Zandvoort beach.

Which museum to choose if I have little time?

Those who like 17th-century Dutch painting should go to the Frans Hals Museum. Those who prefer science, fossils and a preserved 18th-century museum interior should go to the Teylers Museum. Both are closed on Mondays; check opening times before you go.

Can you go to the beach from Haarlem?

The nearest beach is Zandvoort, about ten minutes by train from Haarlem station. The North Sea is cold; the bathing season is usually from June to August. Outside that period the beach is worth visiting for a walk.

In what language are the guided tours?

English is widely spoken in Haarlem. The Corrie ten Boom house has tours in Dutch and in English, and the De Adriaan windmill also hosts groups in English. Confirm the language when booking.

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