Showing 1-13 of 13 results
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Bakenesserkerk
Northeast of the Teylers Museum stands the striking Bakenesserkerk, a late-15th-century church with a lamp-lit tower of sandstone. The stone was employed here when the Grote Kerk proved too weak to support a heavy steeple - hence the wooden tower of the cathedral we see today. A private firm occupies it but you can still peek inside.
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Frans Hals Museum
The Frans Hals Museum is a must for anyone interested in the Dutch masters. Kept in an almshouse where Hals spent his final, impoverished years, the collection focuses on the 17th-century Haarlem School, which is regarded as the pinnacle of Dutch mannerist art.
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Grote Kerk van St Bavo
At the opposite end of Grote Markt looms the Grote Kerk van St Bavo, the Gothic cathedral with a towering 50m-high steeple. It contains some fine Renaissance artworks, but the star attraction is its stunning Müller organ - one of the most magnificent in the world, standing 30m high with about 5000 pipes. It was played by Handel and Mozart, the latter when he was just 10. Free organ recitals take place at on Saturday and also every Tuesday, April to September.
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Grote Markt
Large Grote Markt, with its flanks of restaurants and cafés and a clutch of historical buildings, is a good place to start an exploration of Haarlem. In the centre of the square stands the 17th-century Vleeshal, a former meat market, and the Verweyhal, an old fish market; both serve as modern art annexes of the Frans Hals Museum.
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Hofje van Staats
One of the town's biggest hofjes (courtyards), donated by a Haarlem merchant to poor women of the Reformed Church (1733), it still houses single, elderly women.
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Hofjes
Haarlem is a peaceful city at the rowdiest of times, but even such a serene place needs its fair share of oases. Collectively known as Hofjes - leafy courtyards enclosed by rows of sweet little homes - these green spaces initially served as monastery gardens in the Middle Ages.
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Nieuwe Kerk
Around the corner from the Proveniershuis to the west, down charming Korte Houtstraat, is the 17th-century Nieuwe Kerk; the capricious tower by Lieven de Key is supported by a rather boxy design by Jacob van Campen.
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Proveniershuis
Off Grote Houtstraat to the southwest of Grote Markt stands the Proveniershuis, the former headquarters of St Joris Doelen (the Civic Guards of St George), which started life as an almshouse. Its wonderful old hofje (almshouse) is one of Haarlem's prettiest.
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Statue of Laurens Coster
On the square north of the Grote Kerk is a Statue of Laurens Coster, whom Haarlemmers believe has a claim, along with Gutenberg, to be called the inventor of movable type.
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Teylers Museum
Depending on your tastes, the Teylers Museum may top Frans Hals. Named after philanthropist-merchant Pieter Teyler van der Hulst, it's the oldest museum in the country (1778) and contains an array of whiz-bang inventions, such as an 18th-century electrostatic machine that conjures up visions of mad scientists. At 4m long and 2m high, this amazing beast once ran on batteries the size of a milk wagon.
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Town Hall
At the western end of Grote Markt stands the florid, 14th-century Town Hall, which sprouted many extensions including a balcony where judgments from the high court were pronounced. The counts' hall contains 15th-century panel paintings and is normally open during office hours.
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Verweyhal
On Grote Markt, in a fancy Renaissance building, the Verweyhal designed by Lieven de Key, houses the Frans Hals Museum's collection of modern art, including works by Dutch impressionists and the CoBrA movement. This museum, together with the Vleeshal next door, are collectively known as De Hallen.
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Vleeshal
On Grote Markt, the Vleeshal holds contemporary art exhibitions. It is known collectively with the Verweyhal next door, as De Hallen.
Showing 1-13 of 13 results
