What to do in Haarlem

Activities, attractions and tours

Haarlem which includes street scenes
Haarlem which includes street scenes
Haarlem which includes boating and a river or creek
Haarlem featuring a windmill and a river or creek
Teylers Museum which includes interior views and art

Haarlem Attractions

Let Expedia help you experience the best that Haarlem has to offer! If you’re looking for fun itinerary ideas, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Activities and Tours

Haarlem is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay, and make it a breeze to explore the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Haarlem to make sure that you enjoy your experience to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights.

Haarlem Attractions

Expedia has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. In addition to scheduling local tours, booking reservations and scoring advance event tickets, Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, all on one consolidated travel itinerary, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Haarlem.

Looking for things to do can be time consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Haarlem attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season.

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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 featuring a statue or sculpture and street scenes

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 aspects, interior views and a church or cathedral

3. 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 featuring interior views and art

4. 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 featuring boating, a bay or harbour and a house

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 showing a church or cathedral and street scenes

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

Recommended things to do in Haarlem

Number of things to do
717
Cheapest thing to do on Expedia
Amsterdam off the Beaten Path A Self Guided Expedition: CA $5
Top 5 things to do
Half-day tours
With kids

What to do in Haarlem

Discover the most popular places to visit in Haarlem

Grote Markt which includes café scenes, outdoor eating and street scenes

Grote Markt

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 aspects, interior views and a church or cathedral

Cathedral of Saint Bavo

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

Frans Hals Museum

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
Teylers Museum which includes 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
Grote Kerk showing heritage elements and heritage architecture

St. Bavo Church

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

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
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Amsterdamse Poort

Find out about the history of Oude Stad with a stop at Amsterdamse Poort. Discover the area's churches, or seek out its biking trails.

Amsterdamse Poort

Corrie ten Boom House

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

Corrie ten Boom House

Stadhuis

After a hard day hunting stags in the 13th century, Count William II of Holland could enjoy the comfort of his hunting lodge, now the city hall of Haarlem.

Stadhuis

Explore areas of Haarlem

#daytrip #haarlem #netherlands

Centrum

5/5(5 area reviews)

If you're spending some time in Centrum, Stadhuis and Grote Markt are top sights worth seeing.

Centrum
Windmill de adriaan and cityscape reflections on spaarne river in haarlem, netherlands

Stationsbuurt

5/5(1 area review)

While visiting Stationsbuurt, you might make a stop by sights like Hofje van Staats and Tmall History Museum.

Stationsbuurt

 

Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.

 

 

Day trip destinations from Haarlem

Zandvoort featuring street scenes

Zandvoort

Dutch Landscape with lake and trees in the Netherlands, Kennemerduinen

Bloemendaal

Aerial of historic steam pump station with pipe in Halfweg, the Netherlands

Halfweg

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 vacation 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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