Haarlem

Most trips to the Netherlands focus on Amsterdam, and rightly so. But Haarlem, 15 minutes away by train, is one of the easiest and most rewarding day trips from the city, and it works as a base too. Plenty of people who work in Amsterdam live in Haarlem and commute, and there's no reason you can't do the same as a visitor, especially when Amsterdam hotel prices are at their summer peak.

Haarlem sits between Amsterdam and The Hague, on the Spaarne river and a few kilometers from the North Sea. That means a Haarlem base puts you closer to the beach and the dunes than Amsterdam does. The city has long been tied to the Dutch flower bulb trade, but what you'll come for is the compact old center, a great market square and three museums that would be headline attractions in most cities.

How to get to Haarlem

Haarlem is on the main rail line from Amsterdam toward Leiden and The Hague, so getting there is simple. NS trains from Amsterdam Centraal take about 15 minutes, run many times an hour, and a single second-class ticket is about €5.50 as of 2026. You don't need to buy a ticket in advance: just tap in and out at the gates with a contactless bank card, as you would on Amsterdam's trams. Haarlem's station is a sight in itself, with an Art Nouveau interior that's worth a look on your way out.

There's no direct train from Schiphol Airport. The simplest option is the R-net bus 300, which runs between Schiphol and Haarlem station very frequently through the day, mostly on its own bus lane. It makes several stops, so allow a bit more time than the distance suggests.

Haarlem is also an easy bike ride from Amsterdam. The route is flat, and at a relaxed pace it takes under two hours each way. Our bike rental page covers where to rent.

What to see and do in Haarlem

Grote Markt and the Grote Kerk

The Grote Markt is Haarlem's main square and the place to start. It's lined with cafes and terraces, and on a nice day you'll find half the town out there eating, drinking and people-watching. Join them.

One side of the square is taken up by the Grote Kerk, also called the St. Bavokerk, the city's great late-Gothic church and its signature image. Inside is the famous Christian Müller organ, and the church runs organ concerts and tours. The church's own site lists visiting hours of Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 17:00, with the church closed to visitors on Sundays and holidays. Check the site for the concert schedule before you go.

Teylers Museum

The Teylers Museum is the oldest museum in the Netherlands, founded in 1778 and open to the public since 1784. It mixes art and science, and the building is as much the attraction as the collection: the 18th-century Oval Room still looks much as it did when it opened, full of fossils, minerals and scientific instruments. The art side includes drawings by Michelangelo and Rembrandt. It's at Spaarne 16, open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00, and an adult ticket is €18.50 as of 2026.

Frans Hals Museum

The Frans Hals Museum at Groot Heiligland 62 holds the world's largest collection of work by Frans Hals, the 17th-century portrait painter who lived and died in Haarlem. It's housed in a former old men's almshouse, and the collection goes well beyond Hals: Judith Leyster, Jacob van Ruisdael and other Haarlem painters, plus a collection of art from 1880 to the present. It's open Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00 to 17:00.

Corrie ten Boom House

If you've visited the Anne Frank House, the Corrie ten Boom House is a powerful companion to it. This was the home and watchmaker's shop of the ten Boom family, who built a hidden room to shelter Jewish people and resistance workers during the Nazi occupation. The family was betrayed and arrested. Corrie's father and her sister Betsie died in captivity. Corrie survived and told the story in her book The Hiding Place.

The house, at Barteljorisstraat 19, can only be seen on a guided tour, in Dutch or English, Tuesday to Saturday. Tours take about an hour and you need to reserve at least five days ahead. It's small and gets booked up, so plan it before you plan the rest of your day.

Walking the old center

The best thing to do in Haarlem is often nothing in particular. The center is small enough to wander without a map: shopping streets fanning out from the Grote Markt, quiet canals, and the hidden almshouse courtyards (hofjes) tucked behind plain doors around town. Walk along the Spaarne for the river views and the old drawbridges.

The beach and the dunes

Haarlem's big advantage over Amsterdam is how close it is to the coast. In summer, the beach at Zandvoort is a short train ride from Haarlem station, and the dunes of Zuid-Kennemerland National Park sit between the city and the sea, with walking and cycling trails. It's a very different Netherlands from the canal ring.

Where to stay in Haarlem

Haarlem isn't a big city, and as with most historic European towns, you'll get the most out of it if you stay in or near the center. The station is a short walk north of the Grote Markt, so anything between the two keeps both the old town and your train to Amsterdam within easy reach. If you stay farther out, local buses fill the gaps.

When Amsterdam is full or pricey, it's worth pricing Haarlem for the same dates, since the commute is so short. For more ideas, see our day trips from Amsterdam, or keep going down the line with our guides to getting from Amsterdam to The Hague and Amsterdam to Delft.

FAQ

Is Haarlem worth a day trip from Amsterdam?

Yes. It's 15 minutes by train, the center is walkable, and the Teylers and Frans Hals museums alone justify the trip. Book the Corrie ten Boom House at least five days ahead if you want to see it.

Can I stay in Haarlem and visit Amsterdam?

Easily. Trains to Amsterdam Centraal run many times an hour and take about 15 minutes, and many Haarlem residents do the same commute every day.

photos, top to bottom, by martin_vmorris, Generaal Gibson, Bogdan Migulski, martin_vmorris