Things to do in Haarlem
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Top 10 attractions in Haarlem
Rijksmuseum
• A large collection of well-known art treasures, including masterpieces by many well-known masters • Retaining the architectural style of the 19th century, the brick-red walls are all decorated with images of Dutch history and art • The vaulted roof of the renovated museum atrium hall is made of glass, and the floor is paved with Portuguese stone floor tiles. Natural light penetrates the entire hall, which is spacious and bright. △ The building where the museum is located was planned and designed by the designer of Amsterdam Railway Station. It was opened to the public in 1885 and is one of the oldest museums in Europe. △ Go up the escalator and enter the viewing corridor. The corridor is composed of arched brick walls and large floor-to-ceiling windows. You can enjoy the panoramic view of the atrium hall. The library on the same floor as the corridor is not to be missed. The history of the library can be traced back to the 19th century. The spiral staircase is very unique and is also known as one of the ten libraries with beautiful scenery in the world.Amsterdam · 17.1 km from Haarlem
Keukenhof
•Stroll through the world-renowned spring garden, admire the flower field view with visitors from around the world, and wander through the colorful sea of blooms •Admire over 100 varieties and 4.5 million tulips in various colors, along with nearly 3 million other bulb flowers •Visit over 30 theme-based flower exhibition activities and breathtaking paintings and photography works △There are numerous cultivated varieties of tulips here, including cup-shaped, bowl-shaped, spherical, lily-flowered, and double-petaled types. Their colors range from pink-purple and bright yellow to tender red and pure white, adorning the entire park with vibrant beauty. △The park is surrounded by vast flower fields, with tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and various bulb flowers creating a vibrant tapestry of colors inside. Many rare varieties rarely seen elsewhere are also showcased. △Keukenhof's famous activities include floral hat exhibitions, wooden shoe-making displays, and special adventures designed for children, such as garden mazes and petting zoos. Travelers can participate in various gardening and flower arrangement activities.Lisse · 14 km from Haarlem
Royal Palace Amsterdam
• The palace with gorgeous interiors opens 17 halls, rooms and galleries to the public. • About 2,000 pieces of royal furniture such as sofas, tapestries, and chandeliers are preserved, as well as hanging paintings with rich meanings • After visiting the palace, you can also wander in the square in front of the palace, feed the pigeons or watch street performers, and enjoy the European style △ The Royal Palace of Amsterdam is one of the four royal palaces in the Netherlands. It was originally the city hall and court. As the political and economic center of the city, it is also an important square in the city and a favorite creative theme of painters. It is still full of vitality to this day. The biggest attraction here is its architectural structure and the gorgeous decoration inside the palace. △ Visiting this classical and solemn palace can deeply feel the prosperity and prosperity of Amsterdam in the "golden age". The entire building was designed by Dutch architect Jacob van Campen, and 13,568 tree stumps are cleverly used to support this magnificent building.Amsterdam · 17.4 km from Haarlem
Anne Frank House
Anne Frank House is the hiding place where Anne Frank and seven others hid from Nazi persecution during World War II. Anne spent over two years in hiding here and wrote the now-famous The Diary of a Young Girl. The building consists of a main house facing the canal and an annex at the rear: the main house was once the office of the spice company run by Anne's father, Otto Frank, and today, the office and warehouse have been restored to their wartime appearance; the annex is the famous "Secret Annex," with its entrance hidden behind a movable bookcase, and the eight people in hiding lived in the upper rooms of the annex. After the Frank family was arrested, the furniture and personal belongings in the Secret Annex were cleared out by the Nazi authorities. The museum features a diary exhibition displaying the original red-checkered diary Anne received for her 13th birthday, as well as her later notebooks, books of favorite quotes, and short story manuscripts.Amsterdam · 16.9 km from Haarlem
Zaanse Schans
Zaanse Schansis a historic village built along the Zaan River. Since the 1960s, historic buildings from across the Zaan region have been relocated here, gradually forming its current appearance and recreating the scene of the Zaan region during its industrial heyday in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Zaan region was once a major industrial hub in Western Europe, where hundreds of windmills historically operated along the river simultaneously, serving industrial functions such as sawing wood, pressing oil, and grinding dyes and mustard. Today, several traditional windmills still operate along the river in Zaanse Schans, each serving different functions like sawing wood, pressing oil, and grinding dyes and mustard, with some open for visitors to explore inside. Iconic green wooden houses, warehouses, and craft workshops line the riverbank, creating a distinctively Dutch pastoral scene. The village features a clog workshop where visitors can watch the entire process of traditional clog carving; the cheese workshop showcases the craft of making Dutch cheese, with fresh products available for tasting. Additionally, traditional craft venues such as a bakery museum and a pewter casting workshop are scattered throughout. Taking a boat tour along the Zaan River is another way to experience it; with windmills slowly turning and wooden houses dotting the banks, looking back at the entire village from the water is a classic perspective of Zaanse Schans. People still live here today, and strolling through the village allows you to experience traditional Dutch industrial and craft culture while seeing a picture of a living, working historic village.Zaandam · 16.2 km from Haarlem
Amsterdam Canal Cruises
Taking an Amsterdam Canal Cruises is the perfect way to explore Amsterdam. The Amsterdam canal belt, completed in the 17th century, is a masterpiece of urban construction and architectural design, as well as a concrete manifestation of Amsterdam's political, economic, and cultural prosperity during the Dutch "Golden Age." Amsterdam is a city of water, with a crisscrossing network of rivers and canals. There are over 160 man-made or improved canals of various sizes. More than 2,000 "houseboats" are moored along the canals, which, despite being boats, are fully equipped with all facilities. Taking a glass boat tour is the best way to experience the unique charm of Amsterdam, the city of water. With over 160 canals, the cruise glides through the waterways, flanked by typical Dutch traditional houses. Along the way, famous attractions like the Anne Frank House and Westerkerk can be seen in full view. Some of the more famous canals in Amsterdam include the Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht and Herengracht.Amsterdam · 17.6 km from Haarlem
Canals of Amsterdam
The Canals of Amsterdam link over 100 islands, forming a network of waterways spanning hundreds of kilometers with more than 160 canals and 1,200 bridges. Its main attractions are concentrated within a roughly 1.5 km radius of the canal belt. Amsterdam residents live on the water. The city is intertwined with its waterways, creating a naturally harmonious landscape. The gentleman's canal is the first of the three main canals in the center of Amsterdam. Its fashionable section, called the golden bend (GoldenBend), features many double-width mansions, inner gardens and carriage houses. The emperor canal is the second of the three main canals in the center of Amsterdam, and also the widest one, located between the gentleman canal and the prince canal. It was named after Maximilian I, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. The prince canal is the third main canal in Amsterdam, and also the longer one. Most buildings along the canal were built during the Dutch Golden Age. Scenic attractions along the canal include the Noorderkerk, Noordermarkt, Anne Frank House and other attractions.Amsterdam · 17.2 km from Haarlem
Red Light District Amsterdam Centrum
Red Light District Amsterdam CentrumIt is a well-preserved area in Amsterdam with many beautiful historic buildings. If you're craving Asian cuisine, you can also find restaurants here as there's a small Chinatown inside. One thing to remember when touring: Photography of the woman in the window is strictly prohibited. You might get arrested for this. You should also watch out for pickpockets, because this is a place where many people gather.Amsterdam · 18 km from Haarlem
Dam Square
Dam Square is located in the center of Amsterdam. Known as the "belly button", it is an iconic building in Amsterdam. You can walk five minutes from Amsterdam Central Station along Damrak Street, and you can come to this crowded square day and night. . Historical background Around the 13th century, the residents of Amsterdam built embankments along the Amstel River to resist floods, which is also the origin of the name of Amsterdam. Although the current Dam Square is not large in size, it has become the central square of Amsterdam, where ordinary people once shuttled back and forth, witnessing various political turmoil and demonstrations against the Vietnam War. In contrast, although today's square is still crowded, it is filled with a happy and casual atmosphere. Today, there are various cafes, restaurants and bars on Dam Square. Due to the special location, the price is slightly more expensive, but the business is very good, and there is almost always a need to wait for a table. Various street performers are also an interesting sight on Dam Square. You can watch jugglers performing long whips, clowns who “surprise” passersby from time to time, student bands performing in the open air, grandparents performing traditional Dutch pas de deux.. .... The chubby pigeons in the square will come around from time to time to beg you for food. Everything here is full of vitality and joy. You might as well ask for a drink, sit on the stone steps by the square, smell the coffee in the air, enjoy the novel performances of street performers, and feel the joy with the locals. In spring and autumn, various carnivals and markets with different themes are often held in the square. At that time, the entire Dam Square will be transformed into a colorful playground. If you happen to come across it, you must have a good time. It is also worth seeing the majestic buildings around Dam Square. The imposing blue-roofed building on the west side of the square is the Royal Palace of Amsterdam, which is now used for the royal reception and the new king's succession ceremony. The spired Gothic church adjacent to the Royal Palace is a new church, where organ concerts and exhibitions are usually held. On the south side of the square is the famous Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, from where the huge circular glass can overlook the entire Dam Square. On the east side of Dam Square stands the iconic National Monument, a 22-meter-tall white tower guarded by two stone lions in memory of soldiers and civilians who died in the World Wars. There are also famous business districts around Dam Square. MagnaPlaza Shopping Center, Maison deBonneterie, DeBijenkorf and other large shopping malls in the Netherlands are all within a short walk of Dam Square. In addition, many buses and trams have stops at Dam Square, and the main attractions in the city are also within walking distance from here, which is very convenient. Dam Square is brightly lit at night, and it is another lively scene. After the tour, you can go to the nearby China Town for a walk. From Dam Square, you can walk north along Damrak Street for 5 minutes.Amsterdam · 17.5 km from Haarlem
Rembrandt House Museum
Art lovers will be happy to visit the Rembrandthuis, which is the art museum of the famous artist Rembrandt in Amsterdam. His full name was Rembrandt van Rijn and art enthusiasts can explore the home and studio he lived and worked in. Art students, enthusiasts and patrons can improve their joy by learning about the history of the pieces of art and their creators. This is a chance to get to know the man behind the famous paintings and portraits that manipulated the fake light of paint to bring about incredible photo-like realism to his subjects. Visitors are able to see the mind of the artist at work in simple sketches to finished portraits that come to life with light. Children are not by any means left out in the discovery of art. The Rembrandt House is available for children to follow the Discovery Trail to learn about 17th century life in the Netherlands through the art of the time.Amsterdam · 18.1 km from Haarlem
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Free things to do in Haarlem
Zaanse Schans
Zaandam · 16.2 km from HaarlemCanals of Amsterdam
Amsterdam · 17.2 km from HaarlemRed Light District Amsterdam Centrum
Amsterdam · 18 km from HaarlemDam Square
Amsterdam · 17.5 km from HaarlemBook now for tomorrow
Museum Square
Amsterdam · 17 km from HaarlemBook now for tomorrow
Wooden Shoe Workshop of Zaanse Schans
Zaandam · 15.9 km from Haarlem
Vondelpark
Amsterdam · 16.1 km from Haarlem
Singel Flower Market
Amsterdam · 17.5 km from Haarlem
VOC Ship 'Amsterdam' Replica
Amsterdam · 18.9 km from Haarlem
Begijnhof
Amsterdam · 17.3 km from Haarlem
What travellers say about Haarlem
老恭老恭September 23, 2026
5.0
At the Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands, I was on the scene in Rembrandt's prime time, witnessed the open restoration of "The Night Watch," encountered Vermeer, and came across exquisite Delftware. I was deeply moved by the art of the Dutch Golden Age.
Rijksmuseum
luanaAugust 5, 2026
5.0
Taking this bus to Keukenhof Park to see the flowers is extremely convenient; the boarding point was easily found by following the map. The park is so beautiful in spring! The blooming tulips 🌷 and various other flowers 🌼🌹 are dazzling and vibrant in the sunlight; one day isn't enough to see them all! 🥰
Keukenhof
_TI***hqJuly 26, 2026
5.0
The place is beautiful and the whole experience with audio book is amazing. It usually takes around 1 hour and 30 min to see the palace thoroughly. The staff was amazing and the place was tidy and really capturing
Royal Palace Amsterdam
RaxhelsNovember 6, 2025
5.0
Visiting the Anne Frank House was truly unforgettable. The museum is thoughtfully curated, the exhibits are moving, and walking through the Secret Annex gives a vivid sense of history. A must-visit in Amsterdam!
Anne Frank House
SUNSHINE ONUSApril 20, 2025
5.0
A famous attraction that is worth visiting. Today the weather is nice and sunny, with plenty of sunshine, which is suitable for taking pictures. This is a famous windmill attraction. Along the lake path, you can enjoy various windmills, cultural landscapes and some cheese huts. Some windmills are workers and run under the action of wind. I took a lot of photos and enjoyed the picturesque windmill village.
Zaanse Schans
_TI***joOctober 7, 2026
5.0
Job was a great tour guide down the canals of Amsterdam, he had lots of area knowledge and a terrific personality! We picked up at the Anne Frank House location and it was easy to find. We highly recommend Flagship Cruise
Amsterdam Canal Cruises
EmperorXiFebruary 18, 2025
4.0
It's very good! One of beautiful spots in Europe. Kind Dutch people, and everyone can speak English. Recommend for travelers
Canals of Amsterdam
MARK MORDOVTSEVMay 24, 2026
5.0
The Red Light District is one of the most unique and famous areas in Amsterdam, but I recommend visiting with respect for local people and rules. The atmosphere at night is very lively and interesting, especially with the canals, lights, and historic streets. I also suggest exploring the nearby cafes and smaller streets because some of the best views and authentic Amsterdam vibes are outside the busiest tourist spots.One important thing to remember is that photography of workers behind the windows is strictly forbidden and should always be respected. Overall, this area is much more than nightlife - it is also an important historical and cultural part of Amsterdam with a very unique atmosphere.The photo was taken in the Red Light District area in Amsterdam Centrum, near the famous canals and historic streets close to Oude Kerk (Old Church). This part of the city is easy to explore on foot from Amsterdam Central Station, which is around 10-15 minutes away walking distance. The area is surrounded by narrow canals, old Dutch buildings, cafes, bars, and nightlife attractions. Evening and nighttime are the most atmospheric times for photos because the neon lights reflect beautifully on the canals and create the classic Amsterdam nightlife atmosphere.
Red Light District Amsterdam Centrum
Lavender and SunAugust 23, 2022
5.0
Dam Square was originally built at the end of the 12th century. The north of the Dam Square on the Amstor River is now the Old Town. The houses in this area used to be shops and were very lively. A celebrity was also born here - Zacharias Jansen, the inventor of the telescope.
Dam Square
Joe the world citizenDecember 24, 2023
5.0
It is a nice small museum in the heart of Amsterdam, Holland. This museum tells the story of Rembrandt as an artist and how he trained his disciples. There are paintings from Rembrandt himself and from his disciples. It is worth to visit and it does not take a long time to go through the whole museum.
Rembrandt House Museum
