Haarlem Attractions

Haarlem is famed as a great bulb growing center, producing tulips, hyacinths, crocuses and daffodils which are dispatched all over the world. The tulip came to the Netherlands from Asia Minor by way of Austria at the end of the 15th century, and in the following century gave rise to a "tulip mania" during which extraordinary prices were paid for choice bulbs. A century later there was a similar craze for hyacinths.

To the south of the Provinciehuis extends the Haarlemmer Hout, a remnant of the expanse of forest which once covered much of the Kennemerland, with some ancient trees. The Hildebrand Fountain is decorated with figures representing characters from the well known book "Camera Obscura" by the 19th century writer Hildebrand (the pseudonym of Nicolaas Beets). On the east side of the park, at Kleine Houtweg 135, is the Hofje van Heythuizen (1650).

On the south side of the Grote Markt stands the Vleeshal (Meat Hall), built in 1602-03 by Lieven de Key to house both the municipal slaughterhouse and the butchers' guild, which ranks as the finest work of the whole Northern Renaissance. It is now an annex of the Frans Hals Museum.

Farther along Lange Annastraat (No. 41) is the Hofje van Guurtje de Waal (1616, renovated 1783). Beyond this is Tuichthuisstraat, with the Brouwershofje (1586). In the next street on the left, Barrevoetstraat, are the Wijnbergshofje (1662) and the Gasthuishofje or Hofje van Loo (No. 7), a picturesque group of almshouses built in 1489. Unfortunately the widening of the street in 1885 involved the demolition of the houses on the street side, depriving these hofjes of their air of seclusion.

From the Begijnhof the Groene Buurt leads to the Bakenesser Gracht, along which on the right is the Hofje van Bakenes (1395). At the end of the Bakenesser Gracht is the river Binnen Spaarne, which is crossed on a picturesque drawbridge. To the east can be seen the Amsterdamse Poort (ca. 1400), Haarlem's only surviving town gate. Flanking the main structure are two octagonal towers, and on the outer side, facing the gracht, are two round towers. At the foot of the outer side can be seen some remnants of the old town walls.

Valkenstraat leads into Bakenesserstraat, with the late 15th century Bakenesser Kerk (Reformed), notable for the handsome sandstone upper stage of its tower.

A blend of Dutch and English landscape have been incorporated into this estate. Marble statues, a sculpted pool and lime trees make for an interesting visit.

On the northeast side of the Town Hall is the Brinkmann-Passage, with shops, the Brinkmann Brasserie and a restaurant with a terrace facing the Grote Markt.

This Italian garden, Elswout, has been laid out across the estate of the Renaissance palace at this site.

Near the Grote Kerk is the Vishal (Fish Hall), also built by Lieven de Key, which is now occupied by the department of modern art of the Frans Hals Museum. The red and white facade is topped by a stepped gable and beautiful ornamental gables on the roof.

To the right of the Dreef is Florapark, with a statue of Frans Hals.

Haarlem is well known for its flower markets.

From the southern ring of canals (Raamsingel and Gasthuissingel) Houtplein and its continuation the Dreef run south to the Haarlemmer Hout. On the left of the Dreef lies the beautiful Frederikspark.

From Kloveniersdoelen the street called Raaks leads back to the Gedempte Oude Gracht. On the left is the Head Post Office (by J. Crouwel, 1923), a fine example of the work of the Amsterdam School, with sculpture by Hildo Krop.

From the Grote Kerk Lange, Begijnestraat leads north past the Begijnhof to Goudsmitspleinje, in which is the Goudsmitkamer. A stone on the facade records that this was the guild house of the Haarlem silversmiths and goldsmiths in the 17th and 18th centuries.

To the left of the Oude Gracht in Haarlem is Groot Heiligland. In this street are the Gasthuisjes, a series of hospital buildings with similar crow-stepped gables (1610), formerly belonging to the Sint Elisabeth Gasthuis (St Elizabeth's Hospice).

In the center of Old Haarlem is the Grote Markt, on which 10 streets converge. The busy shopping streets are now closed to traffic. In the center of the square can be seen a statue of Laurens Coster, a contemporary of Gutenberg who is believed to have been the real discoverer of printing. Around the Grote Markt are the most important of Haarlem's historic buildings. It is thus a good starting point for a sightseeing tour of the town.

To the right of the Brinkmann-Passage is the Hoofdwacht (Guard House), one of the oldest buildings in Haarlem, with a gable of 1650. This was the site of the old municipal police headquarters and probably of Haarlem's first town hall.

This annual three-week festival, International Organ Festival, takes place in June or July and is considered to be very important on the country's cultural calendar. The Netherlands has an abundance of organs, with historical grand organs in every town.

The focus of this festival is the 1738 organ in St Bavo's Church, on which both Mozart and Handel played. Over two-centuries later, modern musicians from around the world are invited to Haarlem to play the organ during this festival.

In Jansstraat, which runs north from the Grote Kerk, is the 14th century Janskerk (on left), originally a monastic church, which now houses the municipal archives. Its most notable features are the wooden tower (1595) and the beautiful inner courtyard.

In Haarlem, from the end of the Bakenesser Gracht, turning right along the Spaarne and passing Teyler's Museum and the Weigh House, we come to Damstraat, with the Johan Enschedé & Zonen printing works, in which Dutch banknotes and stamps are printed; and so back to the starting-point of the tour in the Grote Markt.

Tuchthuisstraat leads into Gasthuisstraat. A 16th century house at No. 32, the Kloveniersdoelen, which was originally the headquarters of the town guard, now houses the Municipal Library. On weekdays it is possible to enter the inner courtyard by a vaulted passage from the street (1612).

Returning to the Grote Markt along Zijlstraat, we pass close to Witte Herenstraat, in which (No. 24) is the Frans Loenen Hofje of 1607, with a handsome doorway. Here too is the Lutherse Kerk, with Luthers Hofje and an open-air pulpit reached from inside the church.

On the other side of Jansstraat is the Mariakapel (Chapel of Our Lady), adjoining which is St Josephkerk, a former episcopal church in neo-Classical style. It has a figure of the Virgin which was originally in the Bakenesserkerk.

From the end of Grote Houtstraat the Raamvest runs west to Haarlem's Municipal Theater (Stadsschouwburg), built in 1918 at the expense of an anonymous citizen of Haarlem.

Beyond Frederikspark is the Provinciehuis (provincial government offices), formerly known as the Paviljoen, a country house built in 1788 which was occupied from 1806 to 1810 by King Louis Bonaparte and from 1817 to 1820 by the widow of Prince William V of Orange.

In Grote Houtstraat, Haarlem's principal shopping street, is the Proveniershuis, built in 1591, with a richly decorated gable and an imposing doorway. In 1700 almshouses for old men and women were built round the inner courtyard. Since the marksmen's guild of St Joris has its headquarters here the almshouses are also known as the St Jorisdoelen.

From the Grote Markt Jansstraat runs north, crossing the Nieuwe Gracht and Parklaan, along which extends Kenaupark, laid out in 1868, to the main railroad station (1908), in Art Nouveau style, with fine tile decoration.

Going south along the Spaarne, we see on the other bank (Spaarne 17) the headquarters of the Scientific Society of Holland, in a patrician house of 1794. At No. 43 is the Oprechte Haarlemmer Olie factory, with a 17th century gable.

Returning to the town center on Jansweg and crossing the Nieuwe Gracht (at No. 2 of which is the Hofje van Noblet of 1761), we continue along the Spaarne on the Koudenhorn. In this street is the former old men's home and orphanage of the Diakonie (1768), now the police headquarters. At No. 64 is Teylers Hofje, a group of almshouses built in 1785-87 with money bequeathed by Pieter Teyler van der Hulst, with a handsome neo-classical facade and a doorway flanked by Doric columns.

From the end of Groot Heiligland it is a short distance by way of the Gasthuisvest to Klein Heiligland, with the Vrouwe- and Antonie Gasthuis (No. 64), a group of 17th century almshouses.

In the Begijnhof is the 14th century Waalse Kerk, originally the church of the Beguines, with a 16th century sacristy. Since the Reformation it has been a Walloon church.

Adjoining Teyler's Museum in Haarlem is the municipal Weigh House (Waag), a building of dressed stone erected by Lieven de Key in 1597-98. It was in use until 1915 for the weighing of goods brought in on the river Spaarne.