Haarlem
Haarlem is a medieval city 15 to 20 minutes by train from Amsterdam, with a central square, old canals and paintings from the Dutch Golden Age.
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Haarlem is a city in the Netherlands and the capital of North Holland province, on the Spaarne river about 19 km west of Amsterdam, close to the coastal dunes. Its historic center has been a protected townscape since 1990, with medieval streets, canals and about 1,149 national monuments. The Grote Markt is the central square, dominated by the Sint-Bavokerk. The city received city rights in 1245, and the painter Frans Hals worked here during the Golden Age.
A day covers the Grote Markt, the Teylers Museum, the Frans Hals Museum and a walk through the old streets. Trains from Haarlem station reach Amsterdam in 15 to 20 minutes, and trains to Zandvoort aan Zee run twice an hour for the beach. In spring, the bulb fields between Leiden and Haarlem bloom and can be seen from the train. An overnight stay gives time for the squares and canals in the evening.
Haarlem in five
- Pick one of the two big museumsFrans Hals Museum (Groot Heiligland 62) is open Tuesday to Sunday 11:00 to 17:00. Teylers Museum (Spaarne 16) is open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 17:00 and closed Mondays. Both are shut on a Monday.Frans Hals or Teylers
- Take the NS train, not a carHaarlem is on the NS line from Amsterdam Centraal, and the old center is a short walk from the station. Check the route on 9292 for your date.Haarlem day trip plan
- Visit St Bavo's on its opening hoursThe Great or St Bavo Church on the Grote Markt is the landmark of the center. Check its current hours and ticket rules on the Haarlem tourism site before you plan around a visit.Visit Haarlem
- Compare a Haarlem base to AmsterdamSleeping in Haarlem often costs less than a central Amsterdam room, and the two are linked by NS trains. Check the total with local tourist tax at booking.Haarlem or Amsterdam
- Go for the Christmas market in seasonHaarlem's tourism site lists a Christmas market among its seasonal events. Check the dates there, and book any December stay early.Visit Haarlem events
Things to do in Haarlem
See all attractions in Haarlem
Need to know
- Airport
- Schiphol (AMS), reached by train with a change or by bus
- Getting there
- NS trains from Amsterdam Centraal; check 9292.nl for times
- Getting around
- On foot in the center; bikes and buses for the coast
- Best base
- Inside the old center near the Grote Markt
- Time needed
- 1 day; 2 with the beach or a second museum
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain15 rainy daysHigh7°Low4°Cold, greyJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 87 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, grey
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh7°Low4°ColdFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh9°Low5°CoolMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh12°Low7°Spring, bulbsAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 55 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, bulbs
- MayPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Mild, long daysMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, long days
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh19°Low14°Long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh20°Low16°Warm, beach daysJulyRain
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, beach days
- AugustRain14 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°Warm, busyAugustRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberRain13 rainy daysHigh19°Low14°Mild, calmerSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 97 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calmer
- OctoberRain16 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Wet, windyOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 113 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- NovemberRain17 rainy daysHigh11°Low7°Wet, windyNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 98 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- DecemberRain15 rainy daysHigh8°Low5°Christmas marketDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 87 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas market
Average daily high and low in Haarlem, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Haarlem
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 7°
- Humidity
- 82%
- Wind
- 20 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 98%
Haarlem
11:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today13°9°98%Monday: Rain. High 13°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Tue11°7°10%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Wed10°6°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu9°4°0%Thursday: Clear. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri8°3°1%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 8°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Sat7°2°10%Saturday: Fog. High 7°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Sun9°5°17%Sunday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 17%.
Updated 09:27 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Amsterdama short train rideCanals and the big museums, easy to pair with Haarlem on one trip.Read the guide
- Leidena short train ride southAnother canal town with museums and a student scene.Read the guide
- Keukenhof areaa short ride in seasonThe bulb-field region around Lisse is a spring trip; the planner has the 2027 dates.Read the guide
Before you go to Haarlem
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Rules for Haarlem, checked
Plan around Haarlem
Haarlem FAQ
Is Haarlem worth a day trip from Amsterdam?
Yes, if you want a smaller old town with real museums and fewer crowds. It works best as a full day with one museum, a canal walk and a meal on the Grote Markt.
How long does it take to see Haarlem?
A full day covers the Grote Markt, one museum and the canals. Two days add a second museum and the nearby beach.
Which museum is better, Frans Hals or Teylers?
Frans Hals for Dutch Golden Age portraits and group paintings, Teylers for a 19th-century science and art museum. Teylers is described by its own site as the oldest museum in the Netherlands, founded in 1784.
Is Haarlem open on Mondays?
Shops and cafes operate, but both big museums list Tuesday to Sunday hours. Plan a Monday for the center, the church and a canal walk.
Can you reach Haarlem from Schiphol?
Yes, usually by train with a change, or by bus. Check the route and times on 9292.nl for your date.