A hub for art and culture, Authentic Haarlem is a dynamic city filled with historic architecture, quirky museums, vintage boutiques, independent shops and lush green parks.

Authentic Haarlem

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Culture

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Restaurants and bars

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Bike rental or tour

Boat rental or tour

Included in City Card

Head to the desk at the Visitor Centre for all the information and tips you need about exploring the local area. Browse the route maps and guides, and shop for local souvenirs.

VVV Haarlem

Haarlem is home to 21 unique 'hofjes'. These hidden courtyard gardens are surrounded by almshouses (charitable housing) founded to house poor, unmarried or widowed women. Visit the link to find more hofje locations.

Hofjes

Past meets present at Verwey Museum Haarlem, where the city's history takes centre stage in an engaging permanent exhibition and temporary exhibitions which highlight Haarlem's historical or artistic heritage.

Verwey Museum

Explore the human psyche at this art museum full of personal stories, surprising art and a rich historical collection including works by thinkers and scientists who dealt with disabilities and mental health.

Museum van de Geest

With a striped red awning and a wooden exterior, Nolita Haarlem packs plenty of retro appeal as the city's local pizza parlour. Nolita has quite a few restaurants spread over all of Haarlem, reaching from Heemstede to Overveen.

Nolita Pizzabar

This unique cathedral is ranked amgonst the top five most important churches built between 1850 and 1950. Designed by Joseph Cuypers in a range of architectural styles, the building features 12 towers and a 65-meter-tall dome.

Koepel Kathedraal

Cruising down the River Spaarne is undoubtedly one of the cosiest ways to get an introduction to Haarlem. Sit back and let the city’s welcoming atmosphere wash over you while, of course, enjoying the chance to spot its most beguiling sights from the water.

Haarlem Canal Tours

Known as 'The Wood', Harlemmerhout is the Netherlands’ oldest green monument and hosts various food and music festivals. Spread across 60 acres, discover the deer park, petting zoo, pancake house and Paviljoen Welgelegen for exhibitions.

Haarlemmerhout Park

Hidden among the city's 17th-century brick interior is this nifty, little 'Owly Bar'. The owners transformed 120 square meters of prime real estate into the city's first uncompromised craft beer bar with a constant carousel of 30 draught beers and more than 120 bottles.

Uiltje Bar

Spread across two beautiful historic locations, the Frans Hals Museum is the art museum of Haarlem. Discover the most extensive collection of paintings by Frans Hals in the world, in addition to work by other famous Haarlem artists and a rich collection of art from 1880 to the present.

Frans Hals Museum - HAL

Overlooking the Spaarne River this historic mill houses a museum filled with models and visual installations about the heritage of Dutch windmills. Don't miss the stunning city views from the top deck.

Molen de Adriaan

Smidtje Canal Cruises

Hop on a bike to experience the best of Haarlem and the surrounding area.

Rent a Bike Haarlem

Overlooking the Riviervismarkt is Restaurant Dané. Seafood plays a big part on the menu, with halibut ceviche, the seasonal fish and gravlx all making a welcome and delicious appearance.

Dané

Beer is a religion for some, but this church-turned-brewery takes it to new extremes. Brewing Jopen craft beers onsite, the former Jacobskerk has been beautifully restored – with vaulted ceilings and stained glass intact.

Jopenkerk

Ti Bisou Crêpes Boutique is an ode to the homely atmosphere and food of France's northwesterly region. Tuck into buckwheat pancakes with eggs and ham or syrupy crêpes.

Ti Bisou Crêpes Boutique

De Waag (the Weigh House) dating from 1599, where traders weighed cheese and butter, is an impressive building built in the Renaissance style. It has two stone façades and characteristic round-arched and cross windows. Settle down at this riverside cafe.

Taverne De Waag

PHIL is the city's finest concert hall and home to the perfectly preserved late Romantic Cavaillé-Coll organ. The language-no-problem programme includes dance performances, pop concerts, classical music, and plays in English.

PHIL

Haarlem has been regularly voted the Netherlands’ best shopping destination, and a stroll around the boutique-lined streets will reveal precisely why. Explore the famous Gouden Straatjes (Golden Streets), full of concept stores, independent boutiques, and delis.

Gouden Straatjes

Frans Hals Museum - Groot Heiligland

For almost 30 years, Jacobus Pieck has been a welcome retreat for Haarlemmers on snug Warmoesstraat. Home to a terrace and courtyard garden, as well as a flower-adorned exterior, Jacobus Pieck looks the part. Luckily, the menu is just as good.

Jacobus Pieck

Dating back to 1784, Teylers is the Netherlands' oldest museum. Discover the extensive collection of paintings, drawings, fossils, minerals, instruments and books and be sure to visit the monumental Oval Room.

Teylers Museum

Loomed over by the imposing Grote Kerk, Haarlem’s main square is flanked by charming cafés and restaurants. A farmers’ market brimming with fresh foods and flowers pops up every Saturday.

Grote Markt

This art-house cinema is housed in a former 19th-century prison and features a mesmerising free-standing domed ceiling. Nowadays, De Filmkoepel is the place to catch beautiful arthouse films, the best of Hollywood and everything in between.

De Filmkoepel

De Grote of St. BavoKerk has a great resemblance in style to the white stone steeple of the late 15th-century Bakenesserkerk located nearby.

Bakenesserkerk

Haarlem matches Amsterdam in terms of ornate 17th-century architecture, bustling restaurants and a thriving arts scene. Hop on a bike and experience the best of times between the Netherlands’ twin cities.