Things to do in  Haarlem

The oldest museum in The Netherlands, Haarlem’s Teylers Museum is a natural history, science, and art museum founded in 1778. Today, it is known as the best-preserved 18th-century public institution for the arts and sciences in the world and is packed with everything from minerals and fossils to works by Rembrandt and Raphael.

Set in the former poorhouse where Frans Hals spent his final years, the Frans Hals Museum is home to a collection of paintings by the Dutch Golden Age masters from the 17th century, when Haarlem was known as the “City of Painters.” Admire works by Haarlem School artists, including Hals’ famed Civic Guard portraits.

Easily accessible from Amsterdam by car or public transport, South Kennemerland National Park is a nature reserve of sand dunes, coastal forests, wetlands, and beaches. Visit to enjoy the park’s bird-watching opportunities, nature trails, and cycling paths. This easy day trip from Amsterdam is one of Holland's most popular national parks.