Things to Do in Haarlem: The Perfect Day Trip From Amsterdam

Something I loved about the Netherlands is that it’s really easy to explore other cities for a quick day trip. We stayed in Amsterdam for the week but jumped on the train to visit other small towns during our stay. Our first stop was Haarlem, and it was the perfect place for a day trip! This gorgeous town is only 13 minutes away from Amsterdam but has a much more quaint feel.

Doors and facade lovers, Haarlem has it all.

And the most beautiful lush greenery!

They have an architecture that’ll make your jaw drop. And their main square looks like this:

We only went for half a day, with no plans in mind, and a camera on hand. That’s my favorite kind of trip, just wandering through the town taking pictures of all the things that make it unique. Who’s with me?

One of Haarlem’s most quintessentially Dutch landmarks is the De Adriaan windmill. You can find it on the banks of the river Spaarne. It’s not too far from the train station.

The Amsterdamse Poort is an old city gate of Haarlem. It’s the point that separates the end of the old route from Amsterdam to Haarlem, and the only remaining town gate.

Bij Babette in Haarlem

Of course, we also stopped for some treats during our visit. Bij Babette was our first stop for coffee and pastries. It’s an adorable cafe that offers an array of options including tons of different teas.

Garrone

We had to try Garrone’s gelato before leaving. I first learned about it from @hashtaganika’s Instagram account, and knew I had to go! The gelato was delicious, and I totally recommend a stop there.

source: instagram.com/hashtaganika

So as you can see, the charming town of Haarlem is definitely worth a visit.

It’s a place full of cute nooks.

And the sassiest of people. Put it on your list!