Things to do in Haarlem

Activities, attractions and tours

Haarlem which includes street scenes
Haarlem featuring boating and a river or creek
Haarlem featuring a river or creek and a windmill
Teylers Museum featuring art and interior views
Frans Hals Museum featuring interior views and art as well as a large group of people
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Top places to visit

1. Grote Markt

Walk through the historic streets filled with ultramodern boutiques, hip fashionistas and trendy cafés of Grote Markt and then step back through time as you enter Haarlem’s main square. In the Grote Markt, you’re surrounded by historic buildings: the Gothic cathedral, the 17th-century town hall, the 13th-century Hoofdwacht building where the civic guard once met and the former meat hall which is now the Museum de Hallen.
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Grote Markt showing street scenes and a statue or sculpture

2. Cathedral of Saint Bavo

The grand Cathedral of Saint Bavo, designed by architect Joseph Cuypers and built between the 1890s and 1930s, displays an unusual mix of styles. Numerous towers topped with conical roofs give the church the look of a fairytale castle and lead your eye to the green copper dome. Look up to see the architectural flourishes, from neo-Gothic gargoyles to Romanesque arches.
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Cathedral of Saint Bavo which includes religious elements, interior views and a church or cathedral

3. Teylers Museum

Teylers Museum is the Netherland’s oldest museum, open to the public since 1784. This collection of art, science, history and oddities is fascinating. Inspect the structure, worth visiting for the stunning architecture alone. The façade’s beautiful neoclassical style, with columns and statuary, is echoed by the understated elegance of its interior.
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Teylers Museum showing boating, a house and a bay or harbour

4. Frans Hals Museum

Stroll down a narrow cobblestoned street lined with historic houses to visit the Dutch Master artists from Holland’s Golden Age at the Frans Hals Museum. This gallery has history and character. It’s housed inside a building from the early 1600s, which played a role as an almshouse, a retirement home for poor old men and an orphanage. Look for the painting of Haarlem orphans in their red and blue uniforms.
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Frans Hals Museum which includes art and interior views

5. St. Bavo Church

At the entrance to the main square of Haarlem, stop for a moment and look up at the great church, Grote Kerk. The Gothic building with the crown-topped clock tower is the Protestant church, also known as St. Bavokerk. This church became the prominent feature on Haarlem’s skyline when it was built in the 14th century and has continued to play an important part in the life of the town.
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Grote Kerk featuring street scenes and a church or cathedral

6. Corrie Ten Boom House

Visit Corrie ten Boomhuis to remember a time of great fear and brutality, but of great kindnesses and sacrifices too. The historic house commemorates the incredible bravery of the Ten Boom family in hiding Jewish fugitives and fighters in the Dutch resistance movement throughout World War II.
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Corrie Ten Boomhuis featuring street scenes

What to do in Haarlem

Popular places to visit

Grote Markt showing café scenes, street scenes and outdoor eating

Grote Markt

4/5(6 reviews)

Try local delicacies of salted herring, buttery poffertjes and gooey stroopwafels and relax in a cozy café overlooking the buildings of this ancient town square.

Grote Markt
Cathedral of Saint Bavo which includes religious elements, interior views and a church or cathedral

Cathedral of Saint Bavo

4/5(1 review)

See the unusual mix of architectural styles in this beautiful Catholic Church. Enjoy a performance by the choir, specially trained at a nearby musical school.

Cathedral of Saint Bavo
Teylers Museum showing interior views

Teylers Museum

Experience the Enlightenment. Discover an 18th-century merchant’s collection of art, natural history, geology and science in harmonious neoclassical architecture.

Teylers Museum
Frans Hals Museum showing street scenes and a house as well as a small group of people

Frans Hals Museum

5/5(1 review)

See the works of one of the most talented Dutch Master painters. Let the art transport you back to Haarlem as it was in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Frans Hals Museum
Grote Kerk which includes heritage elements and heritage architecture

St. Bavo Church

4.5/5(2 reviews)

Explore earlier times inside the 15th-century church, nicknamed “Jan with the High Shoulders,” that was at the heart of Haarlem’s community.

St. Bavo Church
Corrie Ten Boomhuis featuring street scenes

Corrie Ten Boom House

4.5/5(3 reviews)

Visit the historic house where a courageous family hid about 800 Jews and underground resistance fugitives from the Nazis in a secret wardrobe compartment.

Corrie Ten Boom House
Amsterdamse Poort

Amsterdamse Poort

Find out about the history of Oude Stad when you spend time at Amsterdamse Poort. Discover the area's churches or seek out its cycling trails.

Amsterdamse Poort
Molen De Adriaan

Molen De Adriaan

Enjoy an outing to Molen De Adriaan during your stay in Oude Stad. Discover the area's fascinating museums or seek out its cycling trails.

Molen De Adriaan

Corrie ten Boom House

You can find out about the history of Oude Stad with a stop at Corrie ten Boom House. Add the area's churches or shops to your travel plans.

Corrie ten Boom House

Areas of Haarlem

Haarlem featuring street scenes

Centrum

4.5/5(25 area reviews)

If you're spending some time in Centrum, Grote Markt and Corrie ten Boom House are top sights worth seeing.

Centrum
Madame Tussauds showing interior views as well as an individual male

Stationsbuurt

5/5(9 area reviews)

If you're spending some time in Stationsbuurt, Hofje van Staats and Tmall History Museum are top sights worth seeing.

Stationsbuurt

 

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Zandvoort showing street scenes

Zandvoort

Photo by Anthony Martinez

Santpoort-Zuid

Frequently asked questions

Is Haarlem worth visiting?
One of the most common things to do in Haarlem is explore Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol. Tick this top attraction off your itinerary, then experience more of the area's culture and history.
How do I spend a day in Haarlem?
Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol and Zandvoorts Museum are two good places to start your holiday adventures. Remember to check out the retail and dining options in Haarlem while you're here too.
What is the top tourist attraction in Haarlem?
The top tourist attraction in Haarlem is Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol, so be sure to include it on your sightseeing itinerary.
Is three days enough to stay in Haarlem?
Three days in Haarlem is plenty of time to enjoy the city's leading attractions. Many travellers spend three days on average. Frans Hals Museum, Zandvoorts Museum and Nationaal Park Zuid Kennemerland are among the most popular sights. Like to discover more? Stick around a little longer to check off nearby hotspots like Amsterdam.
Is Haarlem a walkable city?
It all depends on what you want to see and do in Haarlem. Several attractions, including Frans Hals Museum and NZH Public Transport Museum, are accessible on foot. If you're up for a stroll through some of Haarlem's best neighbourhoods, Oude Stad is 0.32 kilometres away from downtown, while Centrum is 0.16 kilometres away from the city centre and also within walking distance.
What are some activities to do in Haarlem with kids?
If you're searching for activities and sights for all ages, we've got some fabulous ideas for what to do in Haarlem with kids.

What to do in Haarlem for adults?
Corrie ten Boom House and Corrie Ten Boom House are just two of the things to do in Haarlem. With loads of activities available, there's something here for everyone.
Are there free things to do in Haarlem?
From visiting parks to strolling around exciting neighbourhoods, it's a breeze to discover free things to do in Haarlem. If you need inspiration, get some tips from a local tour guide. Grote Markt is a must for anyone looking to save on their travelling adventures.

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