Situated along the Spaarne river in Noord Holland province, the city of Haarlem is one of the most interesting in Holland, simply because there’s so much variety in its attractions. A fortified town established in the 10th century, Haarlem saw much warfare and strife in the years that followed. Originally a centre for textile and lace production, then a site for shipbuilding, printing, cocoa and chocolate works, chemicals and machinery, today the city’s main economic activity is horticulture. You will see ample proof of this in the flower fields that feature prominently in the city’s landscape.

Haarlem was the home of the Haarlem School of painting, a genre which produced some of the country’s greatest painters and the art museums scattered across the city are testimony to this association. Among them, the best known is the excellent Frans Hals Museum. Other museums of note include the Teyler Museum where there is a collection of medieval and 19th century drawings and paintings, mixed with displays of crystals, fossils, and other items of scientific interest, and the Roman Catholic Episcopal Museum.

Haarlem’s other must-see attractions include the St Bavokerke, also called the Great Church, known for its splendid baroque organ and the tomb of Frans Hals, and the exquisite 18^th century Doll’s House, recently restored and worth a look.

You can reach Haarlem by train and bus. There are regular connections to all major towns and cities in the Netherlands. In fact, from Amsterdam there are about four trains every hour to Haarlem and the ride takes about 20 minutes only. In town there are hotels, private rooms for hire, and a hostel. Shoestring travellers might like to try the campsite amidst the sand dunes outside Haarlem.

For detailed country and visitor information, see Netherlands.