Museums
Teylers museum @ Spaarne 16
Opened in 1784, and now the oldest museum in the Netherlands. Focus on science (fossils, minerals, scientific instruments) and art (paintings). It is sometimes called the best-kept secret of Europe, due to its unique character and collections. Napoleon visited here in 1811 to see the largest electrostatic generator ever produced. Unfortunately it's not working anymore. Einstein visited here in 1911. Only museum in the world with authentic 18th century interior. The museum also offers temporary exhibits. The audio tour in English provides extensive information on more than 150 objects in the museum collection, free of charge. You can buy a combi-ticket with Frans Hals museum. www.teylersmuseum.eu |
Frans Hals museum @ Groot Heiligland 62
Art museum with focus on 16th and 17th century painters, specifically painter Frans Hals, the most famous painter of Haarlem. He is known for painting portraits and his particular use of colour and light. Opened in the present city hall in 1862 and moved in 1913 to a 17th century hofje for old men. The museum also offers temporary exhibits. You can buy a combi-ticket with Teylers museum. www.franshalsmuseum.nl |
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Museum of the human mind 'Het Dolhuys' @ Schotersingel 2
Opened in 2005. Experience the world of madness. Meet madmen and lunatics. It clearly demonstrates just how thin the line between 'mad' and 'normal' can be. The museum also offers temporary exhibits. Originally functioned to quarantine people with leprosy in the 14th century, just outside the city centre. www.hetdolhuys.nl |
Modern art museum 'De Hallen' @ Grote Markt 16
For if you're interested in modern art. Paintings, photographs, videos, and sculptures are all on display here. You can spent a whole rainy day here watching videos! The museum offers high-class temporary exhibits. Received the 2013 Certificate of Appreciation by the UNESCO International Association of Art Critics. www.dehallen.nl |
Cathedral museum @ Leidsevaart 146
Opened in 2015, in the cellar of the St. Bavo Cathedral. This cathedral is in the European top-5 of churches built in 1850-1950, along with Sagrada Familia (Barcelona), Sacré-Coeur (Paris), Westminster Cathedral (London) and Koekelbergbasiliek (Brussels). You can see silver and gold religous items. www.rkbavo.nl/kathedraalmuseum |
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Windmill museum "De Adriaan" @ Papentorenvest 1
Windmill from 1779, destroyed by a fire in 1932. Rebuilt in 2002 and now functions as a windmill museum, showing windmill techniques and history. Sometimes used to grind grain into flour. It has a panorama painting of Haarlem in 1778 on the ground floor where you can get snacks and beverages. Walking up several steep wooden stairs and ladders gives you a nice view over the city centre. www.molenadriaan.nl |
Corrie ten Boom museum @ Barteljorisstraat 19
The home of Corrie ten Boom where you can see the "hiding place" where Jews were safely hidden from the Nazis during World War II. Equally impressing as the Anne Frank house, but without the long waiting cues and the entrance is free! But only to be visited during one of the daily one hour Dutch or English tours. www.corrietenboom.com |
Archaeological museum of Haarlem @ Grote Markt 18
For if you're interested in archaeology. Go down inside this small cellar and learn about the history of Haarlem. Mostly focused on educating children, but they also have an interesting English video about the history and development of Haarlem. Free entrance so what do you have to lose? www.archeologischmuseumhaarlem.nl |
Historical monuments
Former city hall "De Hoofdwacht" (13th century) @ Grote Markt 17
Behind the 17th century gable hides a 13th century building, considered to be the oldest building in Haarlem. From 1250 to 1370 it served as the first city hall when Haarlem received its city rights. After that it had a residential function, and in 1755 it became the residence for the municipal police. Since 1919 it is the residence of Vereniging Haerlem, a society that wants to keep the history of Haarlem alive. |
Wallonian church (1262) @
Oldest church building in Haarlem. The church was built around 1262. After a big fire in 1348 the tower and ship was rebuilt. Inside are paintings dating back from before the fire. Before the reformation it was a catholic church. After the reformation is was appointed to the French Protestants who held ceremonies here since 1590. Still the ceremonies on Sunday are in French. Carefully hidden in the official Red Light District of Haarlem. waalsekerkhaarlem.nl |
Former city gate "Amsterdamse Poort" (1355) @ Amsterdamse Poort
Solemn survivor of twelve medieval city gates surrounding Haarlem. Withstood the Spanish fury (1572~1573) and the urban planners' fury in the 19th century. Nowadays a useless passageway. A midnightly meeting place for teenage cokeheads on scooters, ready to submerge themselves in Haarlem nightlife. Also in use as an artist studio. |
City hall (1370) @ Grote Markt 2
Built in 1250 as hunting lodge for the Counts of Holland. Burnt down in a fire in 1351. After rebuilding, it became the city hall in 1370. Around 1385 an expansion was added where people were brought to justice/beheaded (see the statue of Lady Justice). In 1622~1630 the gables were reconstructed. Place where citizens of Haarlem get married. |
Almshouse "Hofje van Bakenes" (1395) @ Wijde Appelaarsteeg 11
Hofjes are medieval retirement homes for poor women, built between 13th century and 19th century. Typically represented as courtyards with small houses around it, hidden behind entrance gates. Haarlem used to have about 40 hofjes but now has about 20 hofjes, some still in use. Havens of tranquility in the middle of a bustling city. Oldest is Hofje van Bakenes established in 1395. Open for visits between 10h and 17h, not on sundays. |
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Great or St. Bavo's church (1370~1520) @ Grote Markt 22
Haarlem's city landmark. Converted from Catholic to Protestant with force during an iconoclastic fury in 1578. It has the largest wooden stellar vault in Europe. The floor is made up of nearly 1500 gravestones marking tombs below, including that of Frans Hals. Known for its world famous Müller pipe organ (1738), the world's largest organ at the time. It attracted people from all over the world. Mozart played it when he was ten years old on a visit with his dad. You can attend the municipal organ recitals for free on Tuesdays at 20h15 and in Summer also on Thursdays at 16h00. English guided tours on Saturdays. www.bavo.nl |
Former weigh house "De Waag" (1597~1599) @ Damstraat 29
Used to be the place for weighing trading goods and paying taxes until 1915. Ideal location near the Spaarne water way. Renaissance architecture. Coat of arms of Holland in the south gable and Coat of arms of Haarlem in the east gable. Nowadays a bar and art exhibition space on the first floor. |
Former meat hall "De Vleeshal" (1602~1604)
Built as a market place for trading meat in the early 17th century until the early 19th century. You can see ram heads and ox heads in the bricks as decoration. Good example of Dutch renaissance architecture: rich decorations, and a mix of bricks and decorative natural stone. It is now part of a museum for modern art and in the cellar is Haarlem's archaeologic museum. |
Grote Markt 16
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Villa Welgelegen (1785~1792)
Built by a banker from Amsterdam as a summer home and to host his art collection. It was bought in 1808 by the French Louis Napoleon, the first king of Holland. It was his favourite palace. But he was forced to leave Holland in 1810 and it became property of the Dutch government. Since 1930 it houses the offices of the provincial executives of the North Holland province. |
Dreef 3
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St. Joseph church (1841~1843)
First official catcholic church after the iconoclastic fury in 1578. Neo classical architecture. In 1853 it was declared as the cathedral of the newly erected diocese of Haarlem. With Catholicism becoming more popular this church became too small and a new cathedral was built in 1930, St. Bavo's cathedral. |
Jansstraat 41
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Ripperda barracks (1882~1884)
Built to house the national cavalry. Horses were replaced by motorcycles in 1922, and eventually by cars. Named after captain Wigbolt Ripperda who played an important role in defending Haarlem during the Spanish fury (1572~1573). Sold to the municipality of Haarlem in 1992 and now has a residential purpose. |
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Droste chocolate factory (1890)
Haarlem chocolate manufacturer Droste, founded in 1863, opened this factory in 1890. Largest chocolate company in the Netherlands. Used to employ 1400 people. Production was moved 100 km away in 1988 and the building was left empty in 2004. Converted into a residential building in 2008. |
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Dome prison (1899~1901)
This panopticon building was built to serve as a penitentiary. It has four floors. Each floor has its own gallery of about 100 prison cells. It was closed in 2016 because of drastic cutbacks. In the future it will be used as a facility for large-scale crowd pulling leisure activities, probably in combination with a hotel. Now it is a temporary asylum seeker shelter. |
Harmenjansweg 4
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St. Bavo's cathedral (1895~1930)
Built by the Roman Catholic diocese of Haarlem after the St. Joseph church they used became too small. Eclectic architecture, partly neogothic, neoroman, art deco and Jugendstil. It is named after the city's patron saint. It is now the main cathedral for the Roman Catholic diocese of Haarlem-Amsterdam. It also houses a religious museum. Second largest church in the Netherlands. |
Leidsevaart 146
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Central station (1906~1908)
Railway station in Art Nouveau style. Some people say this is the most beautiful railway station of the Netherlands. Especially the old platforms are gorgeous. Many authentic details have been preserved like the old waiting rooms. The Hollywood movie Ocean's Twelve was filmed here representing Amsterdam Central Station. Also check the largest underground bicycle parking of Europe when it was opened in 2011 for 5000 bicycles. |
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Hudson's Bay (1930's)
Former Dutch major department store chain V&D bought all the houses here in the 1930's to tear them down and built a large department store. But one house owner would not sell its house. So now the department store is built around the one house of which the owner would not sell it. Elements of Amsterdam School, Art Deco, and New Objectivity. |
Grote Houtstraat 70
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Art galleries
Groot Heiligland 37
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ABC Architectuurcentrum (www.architectuurhaarlem.nl)
You can see a nice 3D map of the city centre of Haarlem. Free entrance. Tue-Sat 12-17h, Sun 13-17h. |
Groot Heiligland 47
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De Galerie @ Gierstraat 43
Art gallery with focus on modern figurative art. www.degalerie.nl |
De Vishal (devishal.nl)
Just hop in to escape the rain or the crowds and have a serene look at the Great or St. Bavo's church through the glass roof, or listen to the organ playing. And while you're at it, check out the modern visual art that's on display in this exhibition space. Temporary exhibits only. This space was used as a fish market back in the old days, because the shade of the church kept the fish fresh for as long as possible. Free entrance! Tue-Sat 11-17h, Sun 13-17h. |
Grote Markt 20
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Spaarne 30
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Statues
Laurens Janszoon Coster statue (1856)
A prominent statue located on Haarlem's main square to honour Laurens Janszoon Coster. Born and raised in Haarlem, he's believed to have invented bookprinting in Haarlem somewhere around early 15th century. This claim, or even his existence, cannot be verified. It's known as the Coster legend. By lack of an image, the statue's face resembles the face of the sculptor. |
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Frans Hals statue (1900)
Bronze statue of Frans Hals, Haarlem's best-known painter from the Dutch Golden Age (17th century), was Flemish. He belonged with Rembrandt and Vermeer to the three most famous Dutch 17th century painters. Now he stands hidden on a traffic island overviewing a busy traffic route. |
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Hendrik Antoon Lorentz bust (1929)
Hendrik Antoon Lorentz was a Nobel Prize winning physicist. One of the great minds of his time. His work forms the basis for the theory of atoms and for the general and special theories of relativity. Was appointed director of research at the Teyler Institute in 1910, a position he held until his death in 1928. He is buried in Haarlem’s Kleverlaan cemetery. |
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Tied Men (1975) @ 52.376893, 4.640616
Most people think this statue resembles a couple in love. On the contrary! This is a sculpture in memory of the Siege of Haarlem (1573), when the Spaniards attacked and conquered Haarlem after a seven month siege. The soldiers who defended Haarlem were thrown in the Spaarne water stream by the Spaniards, tied with their backs against eachother, welcoming a drowning death. |
Sunfighter (1977) @ 52.381304, 4.636121
A bronze sculpture originally designed to be placed on top of a huge fountain to be constructed here on the Grote Markt square in 1967. But then some officials thought it would be too huge for this square and they didn’t want it anymore. Then the architect insisted his sculpture should be placed on this square, and finally this piece of meaningless junk ended up here with a tiny meaningless fountain that’s inactive most of the time. |
Hannie Schaft statue (1982)
Statue of Hannie Schaft, who was born in Haarlem and the most famous female Dutch resistance fighter during World War II. She became known as ‘the girl with the red hair’. She carried out various attacks on Germans, collaborators, and traitors. She was executed at the age of 24 by the Germans three weeks before the end of the war. This statue was unvealed by Queen Juliana. |
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Kenau Simonsdochter Hasselaer & Wigbolt Ripperda statue (2013)
Large bronze statue of two historical figures, ready to fight off the Spaniards during the Siege of Haarlem (1572~1573). Kenau was known for her fearlessness, and governor Wigbolt for inspiring citizens to defend the city. To brighten up the newly designed square (by a Spanish(!) architect in 2009) in front of Haarlem central station. A not so fearsome statue though. |
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Harry Mulisch bust (2013)
Harry Mulisch was a Dutch writer and his novels are considered to be the best postwar literature of the Netherlands with moral and philosophical themes. He was born and raised in Haarlem and used to frequent a writers society during the '50s and '60s located in the basement of restaurant Brinkmann, where the bronze bust is placed in front of. He is Haarlem's only honorary citizen. |
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