Wouter’s guidebook
Supermarkets
Vomar Voordeelmarkt
50 StephensonstraatDiscount supermarket for day to day groceries
AH Soendaplein
18 SoendapleinSupermarket with mid-range products.
Bakeries
There are two locations in the Cronjé of this franchise, one of which is open on Sundays
6 locals recommend
De Haarlemse Bakker
75 Generaal CronjéstraatThere are two locations in the Cronjé of this franchise, one of which is open on Sundays
Our favorite baker in town. Also open on Sundays. 3 minute ride by bike, 13 minutes by foot
55 locals recommend
Bakker van Vessem
10 KleverparkwegOur favorite baker in town. Also open on Sundays. 3 minute ride by bike, 13 minutes by foot
City/town information
Of course this has to be on the list! The town our place is situated in. A combination of old building style, similar to what you can see in Amsterdam, but with a more open relaxed and less touristy atmosphere. It is a nice oasis of peace when exploring the cities around us.
372 locals recommend
Haarlem
Of course this has to be on the list! The town our place is situated in. A combination of old building style, similar to what you can see in Amsterdam, but with a more open relaxed and less touristy atmosphere. It is a nice oasis of peace when exploring the cities around us.
The main reason people book with us is to visit Amsterdam. We can recommend it although some streets are extremely touristy and crowded. Regardless, the buildings are beautifull and there is plenty of stuff to do.
109 locals recommend
Amsterdam
The main reason people book with us is to visit Amsterdam. We can recommend it although some streets are extremely touristy and crowded. Regardless, the buildings are beautifull and there is plenty of stuff to do.
Zandvoort at the beach! This town is situated on the cost in the dunes and heavily crowded on sunny beach days. Make sure to leave for Zandvoort early, otherwise you will encounter heavy traffic.
124 locals recommend
Zandvoort
Zandvoort at the beach! This town is situated on the cost in the dunes and heavily crowded on sunny beach days. Make sure to leave for Zandvoort early, otherwise you will encounter heavy traffic.
Similar to Zandvoort with restaurants and bars on a boulevard like structure. A bit more off the grid as it is not near the train station of Zandvoort. From here you can follow the beach up North in the direction of Ijmuiden, where the beach is nice and quiet.
245 locals recommend
Bloemendaal aan Zee
Similar to Zandvoort with restaurants and bars on a boulevard like structure. A bit more off the grid as it is not near the train station of Zandvoort. From here you can follow the beach up North in the direction of Ijmuiden, where the beach is nice and quiet.
Once bordering the same lake as Haarlem (lake Haarlem is now Schiphol) the town of Leiden is a lovely student town with great musea, such as Naturalis. We turely love Leiden, which feels a bit like Haarlems younger more succesful sister.
188 locals recommend
Leiden Made
10 Hooglandse KerksteegOnce bordering the same lake as Haarlem (lake Haarlem is now Schiphol) the town of Leiden is a lovely student town with great musea, such as Naturalis. We turely love Leiden, which feels a bit like Haarlems younger more succesful sister.
Political capital of the Netherlands. The city centre is really nice and there is a lot to explore such as the parliament building and the peace palace.
36 locals recommend
The Hague
Political capital of the Netherlands. The city centre is really nice and there is a lot to explore such as the parliament building and the peace palace.
Since we are from Groningen we don't dare to say it out loud but we have to take our hats off for Utrecht. We truely love the city and it's atmosphere. A studenttown as Leiden, and a longer richer history than Amsterdam it almost checks all the boxes. There is more than plenty to explore, shop, and enjoy in Utrecht. A must see when you are in The Netherlands
52 locals recommend
Utrecht
Since we are from Groningen we don't dare to say it out loud but we have to take our hats off for Utrecht. We truely love the city and it's atmosphere. A studenttown as Leiden, and a longer richer history than Amsterdam it almost checks all the boxes. There is more than plenty to explore, shop, and enjoy in Utrecht. A must see when you are in The Netherlands
Enough of the big cities? Easily reachable by train is Hoorn. The town is a bit more off the grid and has a waterfront. Truely an adorable town to visit.
124 locals recommend
Hoorn
Enough of the big cities? Easily reachable by train is Hoorn. The town is a bit more off the grid and has a waterfront. Truely an adorable town to visit.
Sightseeing
Open a few months of the year it is basically a botanical theme park. Watch beautifull flowers bloom and let those winter months slide off your mind.
465 locals recommend
Keukenhof
166A StationswegOpen a few months of the year it is basically a botanical theme park. Watch beautifull flowers bloom and let those winter months slide off your mind.
Nature reserve where you can make beautifull walks and see the dune landscape on which Haarlem is build.
211 locals recommend
Zuid-Kennemerland Koevlak
12 ZeewegNature reserve where you can make beautifull walks and see the dune landscape on which Haarlem is build.
The postcard famous church in the centre of Haarlem. Build on the top of a dune it can be easily viewed throughout the city. You can visit the church for a small price and do audio tours. Every night between 21.00 and 21.30 two bells in the church (called Damiaatjes) will ring to announce the city gates are closing. Don't worry about the city gates though, apart from the Amsterdam gate all of the walls and gates have been demolished. So despite hearing the bells, we can ensure you that you will be able to make it home.
27 locals recommend
St.-Bavokerk
22 Grote MarktThe postcard famous church in the centre of Haarlem. Build on the top of a dune it can be easily viewed throughout the city. You can visit the church for a small price and do audio tours. Every night between 21.00 and 21.30 two bells in the church (called Damiaatjes) will ring to announce the city gates are closing. Don't worry about the city gates though, apart from the Amsterdam gate all of the walls and gates have been demolished. So despite hearing the bells, we can ensure you that you will be able to make it home.
An old fort built on a sand bank to protect the city of Amsterdam when the Zuider Zee still existed (former sea which is now a lake). Ships that wanted to enter the city needed to wait for high tide in order to pass over the bank. To this day, "Laying before Pampus" is still a saying meaning that you are just waiting around doing nothing. Well the fort was taken into use in 1895 but lost it's strategical value some 40 years later when the Afsluitdijk (the dyke that closed of the Southern Sea ander turned it into a lake) was completed. Basically Fort Pampus has been laying before Pampus ever since. You can visit the fort via ferry that departs in Muiden
71 locals recommend
Fort Pampus
An old fort built on a sand bank to protect the city of Amsterdam when the Zuider Zee still existed (former sea which is now a lake). Ships that wanted to enter the city needed to wait for high tide in order to pass over the bank. To this day, "Laying before Pampus" is still a saying meaning that you are just waiting around doing nothing. Well the fort was taken into use in 1895 but lost it's strategical value some 40 years later when the Afsluitdijk (the dyke that closed of the Southern Sea ander turned it into a lake) was completed. Basically Fort Pampus has been laying before Pampus ever since. You can visit the fort via ferry that departs in Muiden
Food scene
A local pride of Haarlem. The Jopen brewery is situated in a former church.
272 locals recommend
Jopen
2 Gedempte VoldersgrachtA local pride of Haarlem. The Jopen brewery is situated in a former church.
Another brewer from Haarlem. This is not the brewery itself (it is situated out of town) but you can tast the beers here.
40 locals recommend
Uiltje Bar
18 ZijlstraatAnother brewer from Haarlem. This is not the brewery itself (it is situated out of town) but you can tast the beers here.
Neighborhoods
This part of the city of more pedestrian friendly streets, you will rarely see any cars here. Very old building and some, Haarlem famous, courtyards. There arn't many shops or bars around but the area is recommendable for a walk.
Vijfhoek
This part of the city of more pedestrian friendly streets, you will rarely see any cars here. Very old building and some, Haarlem famous, courtyards. There arn't many shops or bars around but the area is recommendable for a walk.
Traveler advice
Ways to save
Bring water containers, tap water here is the best
Tap water in The Netherlands is of high quality. You can safely drink it, even it is better than most brands. You will therefore see a very limited asortment of water in the supermarkets. So bring your reusable bottles and fill those bad boys up before you head for town!
Ways to save
Deals for train tickets
You can book train ticket deals via https://www.ns.nl/spoordeelwinkel. Deals can involve visiting a theme park or zoo, or a free drink and sandwich alongside your train ticket.
Book before you go
Book restaurants on time
If you really want to eat somewhere you need to put reservations down ahead of time. Most places are booked in the weekends, so make sure to invest some time and seek out a few tables in advance. Most restaurants have a convenient reservation system these days.