Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re traveling to Haarlem, the Netherlands. Only 15 minutes by train, this is one of the best day trips from Amsterdam. It’s a lot more affordable, so it’s a great place to stay near Amsterdam, too! Before you visit Haarlem, there are a few things you should know. These Haarlem travel tips will help you start planning and help you have a more enjoyable visit!
Haarlem Museums
There are two museums in Haarlem that you really should visit. The Frans Hals Museum is dedicated to Frans Hals, a Dutch painter. The museum has a wonderful collection of his artwork, along with other Dutch masters. The Teylers Museum is the oldest museum in the Netherlands. This collection includes art, natural history, and science. The building itself is worth the visit.
What NOT to Do in the Netherlands
Other Things to Do in Haarlem
There are a few churches in Haarlem worth visiting. The St. Bavo Church is located on the Grote Markt and is the main cathedral for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Haarlem-Amsterdam. It also contains an organ that was played by Mozart. The Grote Markt is the central hub of Haarlem, so you’ll definitely spend some time wandering around this area. The City Museum and the Archaeology Museum are also interesting.
It’s also fun to take a canal tour of Haarlem. You’ll get a bit of history of the area, and it’s a nice way to get your bearings when you first get to town. There are also plenty of bike rentals, which is a fun way to see the city. You can ride down to the beach in about 20 minutes.
The Corrie Ten Boom House is now a museum where you can learn about the Holocaust. The Ten Boom family was hiding Jews here for safety during WWII and they were caught.
Netherlands Tulip Fields
If you visit the Netherlands in the spring, you will definitely want to see the Netherlands tulip fields. The most famous of the tulip fields in the Netherlands is Keukenhof, which is only 20 kilometers from Haarlem. It’s really easy to catch a bus from Haarlem to Lisse, where the Keukenhof Gardens are located. Of course, there are other Netherlands tulip fields to explore, as Haarlem sits amidst many flower fields. The best thing to do is to rent a bike and explore the tulip fields at your leisure.
Walking Around Haarlem
One of my favorite things to do in Haarlem is to walk around and soak in the atmosphere. You have the beauty and culture of Amsterdam without the crowds of drunk or high tourists. Haarlem sees far fewer tourists, so you really feel like you can blend in and have a true Dutch experience. You’re also not paying inflated tourist prices like you would in Amsterdam.
Getting from Haarlem to Amsterdam
You can travel from Haarlem to Amsterdam for as little as eight Euros round-trip. If you decide to stay in Haarlem, you’ll save much more than 8 Euros per night on your accommodation. It’s just 15 minutes from Amsterdam Central Station. Grab a train to Den Hague, and Haarlem is one of the stops along the way. From Haarlem to Amsterdam, there are plenty of trains to choose from. The Haarlem train station is pretty cool, too.
Six Rules for European Train Travel
We actually prefer to stay in Haarlem and take Amsterdam day trips by train or taxi. It’s a much more relaxing atmosphere and experience. I hope these facts about Haarlem encourage you to plan your own trip! If you want more tips on traveling in Europe, check out some of our other blog posts: