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Haarlem Travel Guide, Netherlands

Haarlem Travel Guide – Placement and Population

This Haarlem travel guide will help you discover all the big and small things that make this city such a popular attraction for anyone visiting Netherlands. It is located just 20 km west from the capital city Amsterdam and functions as the capital of the province of North Holland. Haarlem stands on the river Spaarne and very close to the coastal dunes and, like its bigger brother, Amsterdam, it has the typical northern aspect of a canal city, with houses built “from water” and boats as a very common means of transportation. Haarlem has 150.000 inhabitants and, although it is merely the 13th largest town in Holland, it is the 4th most populated, with a density of over 5000 inhabitants per sq kilometer. Out of the total population of the city 20 % are of foreign origin, whether European or non-European.

Haarlem Travel Guide – The Flower City

The Spaarne River forms an important connection to the North Sea which has allowed Haarlem to become an easily accessible and successful market town. It is historically known as the “Bloemenstad” (flower city) due to its heavy involvement in the bulb growing business throughout the centuries. The tulip fields have been a sight for those travelling from Amsterdam to Rotterdam since the 17th century and with the expansion of the city they also became larger and still form one of the most beautiful and unique sceneries Holland has to offer. These bulbs are exported all over the world and have been giving the people from Haarlem a permanent income for centuries, but today the city also supports itself through other types of industry.

Haarlem Travel Guide – Unique Characteristics

Although this Haarlem travel guide might have left you with the impression that it’s all flowers in Haarlem, this little town is actually located at the centre of one of the largest industrial areas in Holland. Their main local industries include pharmaceutics, metal work and horticulture. Haarlem also benefits a lot from tourism, as it has the feel of a pocket size Amsterdam with all the subsequent attractions. It is a historical beer brewer and even today, it is home to a very large variety of pubs where you can enjoy different types of local beer, but if you’re looking for the real Holland deal, you should try one of their many cannabis coffee shops. Shopping in Haarlem is also quite impressive, as their traffic-free shopping area recommends it for tourists all around Holland. While there, you should definitely rent a bike and walk about as everybody does, and maybe even enroll in one of their amateur cycling competitions.


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  • adamHaarlem
    review by adam posted more then 30 days ago
    Haarlem is a small town, situated near Amsterdam about 20 km from the Dutch capital. It is know for it's rich history, beautiful architecture and it's prominent market square. The Sint-Bavokerk is the symbol of the city which lies also at the market square. Once a former catholic...
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