Haarlem

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Van Gogh Museum
2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Van Gogh Museum

10
4.8/5
2.1k reviews

The Van Gogh Museum is located on Museumplein in Amsterdam and is a national art museum centered on Van Gogh's works, holding more than 200 of his oil paintings, hundreds of drawings, and a large number of letters exchanged between him and his brother Theo, a collection that ranks among the foremost of its kind worldwide. The origin of this collection is itself a story: after Van Gogh's death in 1890, the paintings were kept by his brother Theo; Theo passed away shortly afterward, and his widow, Johanna van Gogh-Bonger, devoted her life to organizing and exhibiting these works, which had received little attention during Van Gogh's lifetime, ultimately bringing them together into this museum. The permanent exhibition lays out a clear viewing route in chronological order of creation: from the dark-toned "The Potato Eaters" of the Nuenen period in the Netherlands, to the numerous self-portraits of the Paris period, then to "The Yellow House," "The Bedroom," and "Sunflowers" of the Arles period, and finally to "Almond Blossom" and "Wheatfield with Crows" created in the last stage of his life in Saint-Rémy and Auvers-sur-Oise, making Van Gogh's creative trajectory over a brief ten years clear at a glance. In addition to his own works, the museum also displays paintings and sculptures by contemporary artists such as Monet, Gauguin, and Rodin, many of which were personally collected by Van Gogh and Theo at the time; in Gauguin's "The Painter of Sunflowers," the protagonist is none other than Van Gogh, the painter of sunflowers. The building itself is also worth a closer look: the main building was designed by the Dutch De Stijl architect Rietveld and opened in 1973, with exhibition galleries unfolding layer by layer around an open atrium; the oval wing designed by the Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa was completed in 1999 and is dedicated to large-scale temporary exhibitions; and the all-glass entrance building opened in 2015 connects the old and new wings into one. The museum is consistently popular, with dense crowds during peak hours, so if you plan to take a close look at the permanent collection, it is recommended to allow ample visiting time.

Amsterdam · 16.9km from Haarlem
Keukenhof
2026 Global 50 - Spring Outings

Keukenhof

8.1
4.7/5
631 reviews

Keukenhof is located in Lisse, the Netherlands, and is a world-renowned spring garden. The park was formerly a 15th-century nobleman's kitchen garden. In 1857, it was redesigned in English style by the landscape architects father and son Zocher, and in 1949 it was jointly founded as a flower exhibition garden by Dutch bulb growers and opened to the public the following year. It is only open for about eight weeks each spring. Inside the park, dozens of gardeners hand-plant about seven million bulbs in the fall, including tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, lilies, and more. Among them are about 800 varieties of tulips, with flower shapes including cup-shaped, bowl-shaped, lily-flowered, and double-flowered, and colors ranging from pink-purple, bright yellow, and soft red to pure white. The flower beds are carefully arranged, with different bulbs planted in layers to ensure that flowers bloom throughout the entire opening period. The park features several indoor pavilions named after the Dutch royal family, with different floral themes rotating weekly. The park also includes distinctly styled gardens such as an English landscape garden, a natural garden, and a Japanese country garden. Landmark views include an old windmill built in 1892, from which visitors can climb up and look out over the surrounding flower fields; a walk-through garden maze; and a stepping-stone path across the lake. From the park's observation deck, visitors can also gaze out at the surrounding commercial flower fields, a spectacular sight. More than a hundred sculptures and works of art are scattered throughout the park, adding a cultural touch to the flower viewing. Families with children can head to the small petting farm and children's play area, so the kids have their own fun too.

Lisse · 14km from Haarlem
Zaanse Schans
No. 9 of Best Things to Do in Netherlands

Zaanse Schans

7.5
4.7/5
604 reviews

Zaanse Schansis a historic village built along the Zaan River. Since the 1960s, historic buildings from across the Zaan region have been relocated here, gradually forming its current appearance and recreating the scene of the Zaan region during its industrial heyday in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Zaan region was once a major industrial hub in Western Europe, where hundreds of windmills historically operated along the river simultaneously, serving industrial functions such as sawing wood, pressing oil, and grinding dyes and mustard. Today, several traditional windmills still operate along the river in Zaanse Schans, each serving different functions like sawing wood, pressing oil, and grinding dyes and mustard, with some open for visitors to explore inside. Iconic green wooden houses, warehouses, and craft workshops line the riverbank, creating a distinctively Dutch pastoral scene. The village features a clog workshop where visitors can watch the entire process of traditional clog carving; the cheese workshop showcases the craft of making Dutch cheese, with fresh products available for tasting. Additionally, traditional craft venues such as a bakery museum and a pewter casting workshop are scattered throughout. Taking a boat tour along the Zaan River is another way to experience it; with windmills slowly turning and wooden houses dotting the banks, looking back at the entire village from the water is a classic perspective of Zaanse Schans. People still live here today, and strolling through the village allows you to experience traditional Dutch industrial and craft culture while seeing a picture of a living, working historic village.

Zaandam · 16.2km from Haarlem

Experiences you can't miss in Haarlem

Featured Culture & history in Haarlem

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Haarlem Highlights Audio Tour: Historic Treasures
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Duration: 1 hr
English
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Life of Corrie Ten Boom & World War 2 Walking Tour
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4.9/5
· 8 reviews
Duration: 2 hrs
English
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Haarlem self-guided audio walking tour (8 stops, approx. 2 hrs)
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Duration: 2 hrs
English
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Haarlem: City Center Walking Tour
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Duration: 2 hrs
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Haarlem: Windmill 'De Adriaan' Guided Tour
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4.8/5
· 66 reviews
Duration: 1 hr
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35 consecutive positive reviews
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Haarlem: City Highlights Walking Tour
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5.0/5
· 7 reviews
Duration: 2 hrs
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Haarlem: Personalized Private Highlights & History Tour
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Haarlem: Sightseeing Boat Tour with Snacks and Drinks
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4.4/5
· 21 reviews
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From€ 28.50

Featured Food & drink in Haarlem

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BBQ on Board Haarlem Cruise
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5.0/5
· 1 review
Duration: 2 hrs
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Haarlem: Evening Pizza Cruise with Fresh Nolita Pizza
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4.7/5
· 3 reviews
Duration: 1.5 hrs
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Haarlem: The Cheese and Wine Evening Cruise
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4.6/5
· 5 reviews
Duration: 1.5 hrs
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Haarlem: Combi Ticket Scenic Cruise + Stroopwafel workshop
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4.5/5
· 30 reviews
Duration: 50 mins
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Haarlem: Sailing Cheese & Wine Tasting – Evening Cruise
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The Hague: Walking Food Tour with Delicious Tastings
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5.0/5
· 7 reviews
Duration: 4 hrs
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Heineken Experience: Entry Ticket
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3.7/5
· 6 reviews· 113 booked
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Amsterdam: Bols Cocktail Experience and Cocktail Workshop
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4.8/5
· 171 reviews
Duration: 1.5–2 hrs
English
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44 consecutive positive reviews
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Featured Outdoor & sports in Haarlem

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Departure from Amsterdam, Netherlands: Zaanse Schans + Edam + Volendam + Marken 1-day tour
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Departure from Amsterdam, Netherlands: Zaanse Schans + Volendam + Marken 1-day tour
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Amsterdam: Cheese Tasting, Windmill & Countryside Bike Tour
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4.8/5
· 52 reviews
Duration: 3 hrs
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30 consecutive positive reviews
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Amsterdam: Countryside Bike Tour and Zaanse Schans Windmills
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5.0/5
· 2 reviews
Duration: 5 hrs
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Amsterdam: Leisurely Windmill & Countryside Bike Ride
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5.0/5
· 8 reviews
Duration: 3.5 hrs
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Amsterdam: Waterland District Countryside Villages Bike Tour
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5.0/5
· 2 reviews
Duration: 3.5 hrs
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Small-group full-day island tour to Texel from Amsterdam
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From€ 250.00
Haarlem Today's weatherClear 2-9℃
Haarlem weather for the next 2 days11/15: 8-11℃, 11/16: 5-10℃

Free things to do in Haarlem

What travellers say about Haarlem

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_TI***ww8 November 2026
5.0
Not bad! Get the guide otherwise you will be lost. Iconic museums so it’s a must to go.

Van Gogh Museum

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Jmebaby甄心話·大冒險2 April 2023
5.0
There is a big logo here, showing Amsterdam, but it is spelled with different sounds. The Dutch are really creative. You can spend a whole day in this Museum Square and rest leisurely here.

Museum Square

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Tomo智🐬南宫亦月2 November 2026
5.0
A must-visit place when you come to the Netherlands, this is the museum with the most works by Van Gogh. Of course, the exhibits in the Rijksmuseum also show that the Netherlands is a very wealthy country.

Rijksmuseum

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Paul J28385 November 2026
5.0
A beautiful garden with the added beauty of the Tulip fields (from a working farm) which covered acres and acres. The complex can get very busy so we visited as soon as it opened. We beat the rush and experience the gardens in peace and was able to get good photo opportunities. We visited during the main flowering season Easter time and the Amsterdam council set up a special coach from city centre to the entrance (fee required) shops and restaurants are dotted around the complex. Greenhouse exhibits were outstanding showing thousands of varieties of Tulip plus other exotic blooms. We took a canel cruises along the fields of tulips which was wonderful. As we left after 5 hrs the entrance was getting very busy so we was do please we got up early

Keukenhof

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_TI***hq26 July 2026
5.0
The place is beautiful and the whole experience with audio book is amazing. It usually takes around 1 hour and 30 min to see the palace thoroughly. The staff was amazing and the place was tidy and really capturing

Royal Palace Amsterdam

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Maddie913 October 2026
5.0
An amazing experience. Something I have been meaning to go to for years but could never get tickets. Definitely worth doing and experiencing.Tips: book the half hour pre talk before, even if you know all about Anne Frank, it is definitely worth it to set the scene before the tour

Anne Frank House

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Mohamed khaliel26 October 2026
5.0
Zaanse Schans feels like stepping into a postcard, where traditional Dutch windmills, charming green wooden houses, and peaceful canals create a truly magical atmosphere! 🇳🇱🌷✨ This beautiful village captures the timeless charm of the Netherlands and offers a glimpse into its rich heritage. A perfect destination for slow travel, stunning photography, and unforgettable memories! 💚 Would you love to experience this Dutch fairytale in person?

Zaanse Schans

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Aries Patrick Abadilla Reyes5 November 2026
5.0
We really enjoyed our canal cruise in Amsterdam! It was such a relaxing and beautiful way to see the city from a different perspective. Cruising along the canals, passing under the charming bridges, and admiring the traditional Dutch houses was definitely a highlight of our trip.I travelled with my parents, and it was a lovely experience for all of us. It was especially nice to be able to sit back, relax, and enjoy the sights without having to walk around too much.The views were beautiful, and it was a great opportunity to take photos and appreciate Amsterdam’s unique charm.Overall, a wonderful experience and definitely something I’d recommend when visiting Amsterdam, especially if you’re travelling with family. A lovely way to make memories together! ❤️

Amsterdam Canal Cruises

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Viana’s Journey11 August 2026
5.0
Few small activities you can actually participate in after the guided tour such as karaoke while cycling, selfie corner (you can have the soft copy). We’ve given an extra glass of beer for tasting experience (in total, we’ve gotten 3 glass of beer for one person)

Heineken Experience

Trip Moments in Haarlem

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Frequently asked questions

What are the must-do things in Haarlem?

Don't miss these attractions in Haarlem: Van Gogh Museum, Museum Square, and Rijksmuseum. If you like Culture & history, try Haarlem Highlights Audio Tour: Historic Treasures. If you enjoy Food & drink, try BBQ on Board Haarlem Cruise.

You can give BBQ on Board Haarlem Cruise and Haarlem: Evening Pizza Cruise with Fresh Nolita Pizza a try. Before you go, please check their opening hours and menus online. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak hours.

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