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Voykit pocket guide · Netherlands
Haarlem
Base here 1–2 nights instead of Amsterdam: 15 min by train, cheaper beds, and the whole old centre is a 15-min walk from the station.
Haarlem is a compact Golden Age town 20 km west of Amsterdam, with a Gothic church on its market square, two strong art museums and a station 10–15 minutes on foot from the centre. Trains from Amsterdam Centraal run every 10 minutes and take about 15 minutes, so it works as a quieter base or an easy day out. Most visitors need one full day; two if you add the coast or the dunes.
- Country
- Netherlands
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (busiest), Dec–Feb (short days, some sights on limited hours)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Cards dominate; some shops and cafés are card-only and a few supermarkets accept debit cards but not all credit cards, so carry both.
- Daily spend
- Budget €60–90 excl. bed · Mid €90–150 excl. bed · High €150+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- KPN, Vodafone and Odido run the networks; Lebara and Lyca sell cheap prepaid SIMs in supermarkets and at Schiphol.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard continental two-pin; UK and US plugs need adapters.
- Tipping
- Café: Round up.; Restaurant: 5–10% for good service; tell the server the total when paying by card.; Taxi: Round up.; Hotel: Not expected.
- Water
- Tap water is among the best in Europe; restaurants may charge for it, so ask.
- Toilets
- Stations charge about €0.70–1; cafés expect you to buy something; free urinals (and a few public toilets) in city centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee or tea in a café | €3–5 |
| Lunch (sandwich or soup) | €8–15 |
| Dinner main course | €15–25 |
| Draught beer (0.25 l) | €3–5 |
| Museum entry (Frans Hals, Teylers) | €12–18 |
| Sint-Bavokerk entry | €4 adults, €2 youth 12–16, free under 12 |
| Molen De Adriaan entry | €7.50 adults, €2.50 children 5–12 |
| Canal cruise | €9.50–12.50 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- AMS · Amsterdam Schiphol
- Train towards Amsterdam Centraal, change at Sloterdijk for Haarlem; about 40–50 min total. R-net bus 300 also runs Schiphol–Haarlem in about 45 min.
Typical fares
- Amsterdam Centraal → Haarlem, train
- about €6 one way, 15 min (check)
- Schiphol → Haarlem, R-net bus 300
- €3.64 one way, about 45 min (check)
- Haarlem station → Grote Markt, bus 2/73/300
- about 5 min to Centrum/Verwulft (check)
Get around
Walk: the station to the Grote Markt is 10–15 minutes, and the old centre is small enough to cover on foot. Buses 2, 73 and 300 link the station to Centrum/Verwulft in about 5 minutes. Trains run to Amsterdam Centraal every 10 minutes (about 15 min) and to Zandvoort aan Zee every 30 minutes. Cycle paths are good and the terrain is flat; a bike from Amsterdam takes about 1–1.5 hours.
See and do
Known for
- Grote Markt and the Sint-Bavokerk
- Frans Hals Museum
- Teylers Museum
- Hofjes (almshouse courtyards)
- Molen De Adriaan windmill
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | Train from Haarlem to Amsterdam Centraal, every 10 min | About 30–40 min |
| Zandvoort aan Zee | Train from Haarlem towards Zandvoort, every 30 min | About 30–40 min |
| Uitgeest | Train from Haarlem towards Alkmaar/Uitgeest | About 40–50 min |
| Heemskerk | Train towards Alkmaar, then bus | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Around the Grote Markt
- In the old centre; everything walkable, but the square is loud on market and terrace nights.
- Station and Stationsplein
- Cheapest beds and easiest with bags; 10–15 min walk to the centre, trains to Amsterdam and the coast.
- Haarlemmerhout and south of the centre
- Quieter, near the oldest public park in the country; 15–20 min walk from the station.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hallohah-loh |
| Thank you | Dank u weldahnk u vel |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Pardonpar-don |
| How much is it? | Hoeveel kost het?hoo-vale kost het |
| Can I pay by card? | Kan ik met de kaart betalen?kan ik met de kart be-tah-len |
| Where is the toilet? | Waar is het toilet?vaar is het twa-let |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Firm handshake with eye contact; three cheek kisses among friends; avoid: Hugging new acquaintances
- Directness: Say what you mean; expect honest, blunt answers; avoid: Taking bluntness as rudeness
- Punctuality: Be on time; diaries plan weeks ahead; avoid: Dropping in unannounced
- Money: Split bills; pay your share; avoid: Showing off wealth
- Homes: Bring flowers or a small gift; congratulate everyone at a birthday; avoid: Expecting dinner if invited for coffee
Scams and watch-outs
- Bikes have priority on many streets and cycle paths: look both ways before crossing, including one-way streets.
- Some hofjes courtyards are private homes; only enter the ones with a sign or an open gate.
- Museum and church hours change by season and many close on Mondays: check the official site before you go.
- The Ten Boom Museum is small and entry is by guided tour only; tour times are posted on the door and you cannot wait inside.
Haarlem is a low-risk town; the real issues are bicycles on the streets, pickpockets around the Grote Markt in high season, and dark unlit paths along the Spaarne at night.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Haarlem yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Grote Markt and the Sint-Bavokerk
- Frans Hals Museum
- Teylers Museum
- Hofjes (almshouse courtyards)
- Molen De Adriaan windmill
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- VVV Haarlem tourist information: www.haarlemmarketing.co.uk/plan-your-visit/tourist-information-centre
- NS — Station Haarlem: www.ns.nl/stationsinformatie/hlm/
- Grote Kerk Haarlem: www.bavo.nl/en/
- Frans Hals Museum: www.franshalsmuseum.nl/en/
- Teylers Museum: www.teylersmuseum.nl
- Molen De Adriaan: www.molenadriaan.nl/en/
- Wikivoyage: Haarlem, revision 5336193 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5336193
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Haarlem
Naar dit adres, alstublieft
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance112
No embassies in Haarlem; most are in The Hague, with consulates in Amsterdam.
English is widely spoken; Dutch is appreciated for greetings.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/haarlem). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.