
Are you looking for free things to do in Haarlem, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands? Then this self-guided and free walking tour in Haarlem is one of the best things to do. Discover the perfect activity to add to your one-day itinerary for Haarlem and explore the city with a local. There are plenty of things to see in Haarlem, so if you’re wondering what to do, then this Haarlem walking tour will blow your mind. Especially if you’re looking at getting a better insider look in Haarlem.
The ultimate Haarlem free walking tour: Discover one of the best free things to do in Haarlem, The Netherlands
Before we start one of our Haarlem walking tours, there are a few things you should be aware of. Haarlem is a stunning city, with lots of things to do and see. A free walking tour in Haarlem is great if you do pay attention to the local community, which I will explain more below.
Anyhow, I hope you will add this walking tour to your travel guide to Haarlem and that it shows you what to do and see in Haarlem, beyond the main tourist attractions.
How to behave in courtyards in The Netherlands: Etiquette tips
During this free walking tour in Haarlem, we will also visit courtyards. Remember that the patios in Haarlem are beautiful to visit, but they are a quiet and peaceful space. Don’t yell, talk loud, nor enter the courtyards with big groups. Don’t stand in front of houses and look through the windows. People live here, and they are not part of a museum. Don’t be rude.
The opening times of the courtyards may differ from the ones that I state here, simply because the opening times have become more restrictive because of disturbances by tourists. Always have a look at the signage at the sites itself. It will state the time and day that you are allowed to enter. Or the times that you are not allowed to enter. Follow those signs at all times!
Take your Google Translate and see if they are opened or not. It’s not that hard to be a respectful visitor. Be polite, and future generations will still be able to visit these beautiful places in Haarlem and the rest of The Netherlands. If you’re not respectful, these places won’t let visitors in anymore, which is entirely understandable.
Free walking tour in Haarlem, The Netherlands: Find the highlights and top things to do in one day
This city gate dates back to around 1400 and was first named the Spaarnwouderpoort as the road to Amsterdam used to be through the small Dutch town of Spaarnwoude. You might have noticed that this is the first city gate in Haarlem that you’re seeing. There’s a good reason for that. Haarlem originally had twelve city gates, but this is the only gate that is left. The Amsterdamse Poort is also the city gate that was first mentioned in archives as it was built when Haarlem first expanded.
It’s time to continue our Haarlem walking tour to the Korte Dijk and Molen De Adriaan. Windmill De Adriaan is the mill in Haarlem that you’ve probably seen on plenty of photos. The windmill De Adriaan has been standing at the same location since the 19th of May 1779. It was actually a part of the fortifications of Haarlem as it was built on top on the fundaments. It was first mainly used for grinding shells, tuff and oak bark. In 1802 the windmill in Haarlem was sold to a tobacconist who produced tobacco in the mill.
In 1865 the windmill got yet another owner and function as it was transformed to wind and steam mill where grain was ground. The plan was to demolish the windmill in 1925, but a non-profit organisation prevented this. In 1930, this windmill in Haarlem was heavily damaged during a storm after which the mill became more decayed as time passed on. On the 23rd of April 1932, the windmill caught fire and is destroyed. While the inhabitants of Haarlem wanted their favourite mill to return, there was a crisis in the 30s in The Netherlands and after that 30s the Second World War made its way to Haarlem. Eventually, the windmill in Haarlem was finally rebuilt between 1999 and 2002. The mill can be visited, but not always.
Have a look at the opening times for De Adriaan windmill here
After this windmill in Haarlem, we go to Koudenhorn and, yet another courtyard, Teyler’s hofje. It was made in 1787, as a legacy from Pieter Teyler van der Hulst. He was a wealthy entrepreneur who mainly made money from the silk industry. The endowment also stated that money should go to a new museum about science, called the Teyler’s Museum, as well as a new non-profit organisation in Haarlem. The Teyler’s courtyard in Haarlem is home to 24 houses and has one of the most beautiful main entrances you’ll ever see. This courtyard was only for poor women above the age of 70. Nowadays, women are only able to live here, but age doesn’t matter anymore. You can visit this courtyard from Monday – Saturday 10:00- 18:00.
Walk to the Donkere Spaarne and then we continue to a beautiful church in Haarlem: Bakenesserkerk. The current form of the church dates back to the 17th century, although the tower goes back to 1530. There was already a wooden church, with the same name as nowadays, on the same location since 1250. But it was replaced by a church made of stone shortly after 1250. The stone building was replaced in the second half of the 15th century. Nowadays the church is part of an office, but also has an exposition room and interesting archaeological works. You can visit the church from Monday- Friday 13:00- 16:30 and every third Sunday of the month from 12:00- 16:00.
Go to the Kokstraat and Koudenhorn 2. This building was a home for people who couldn’t take care of themselves, such as the homeless or beggars. The people who lived in the house were in better conditions than on the streets, but it still wasn’t much. But they did get food, fuel and clothing, in exchange they had to work. This house was built between 1768 and 1771 and could house 670 elderly, 150 needy children and 80 boarders. In 1810, the building changed into barracks, and the inhabitants had to move. The barracks were in use until 1960. As of 1971, the principal office of the police in the region Haarlem is located here.
We are going further on our self-guided and free walking tour in Haarlem. It’s time to head to another courtyard, Hofje van Noblet. This courtyard in Haarlem can be visited from Monday – Saturday from 10:00-17:00. It was founded by Leonard Noblet, which explains the name of this patio, in 1760. It’s one of the more special courtyards in Haarlem as it has a garden in front of the building and a courtyard after you enter through the gate.
The Noblet family from Amsterdam lived in a building on this location. They stated that the house had to be reconstructed into a courtyard after the entire family had passed away. So that is what happened. This courtyard offered to house unmarried women who were fifty-plus years. The eastern part was reserved for women who had lived in Amsterdam for at least ten years; the western side was for women who lived in Haarlem for at least ten years. All these women also had to be a member of the Dutch reformed church for at least ten years.
Walk to Hooimarkt and then to Parklaan 34. This is an Evangelical protestant church that was designed by architect D.E.L. van den Arend and built in 1876. Now continue to walk another part of the Parklaan, Jansweg and to another courtyard: Hofje van Staats.
This almshouse in Haarlem was founded after the legacy of Ysbrand Staats, who was a prosperous trader. His entire wealth was left to the poor in Haarlem. Construction started in 1730, and the thirty houses for unmarried older women were finished in 1733. It’s one of the best-hidden courtyards and places to see in Haarlem. As of today, there are twenty houses. They even had a moratorium, which is a cycling storage room nowadays. You can visit the courtyard from Monday- Saturday 10:00-17:00.
Now you will walk into one of the parks in Haarlem: De Bolwerken Park. This city park in Haarlem is mainly known as a place where you can discover the old fortifications of Haarlem, and it opened in 1828. These fortifications remained when the city walls of Haarlem were demolished in the 17th century. This park in Haarlem is designed with the English landscape style in mind.
Now head over to Staten Bolwerk 1. This neo-classic villa, with coach house, is located in De Bolwerken Park and dates back to around 1900. The coach house was made in the last quarter of the 19th century. We continue our walk to our next park: Kenaupark.
After a walk through this park, you will make your way to Nieuwe Gracht 80. This is the former Bishop’s Palace from the diocese Haarlem- Amsterdam and is from the first half of the 18th century. This palace in Haarlem was the home of the bishop of the diocese, not too shabby if you ask me. The complex was put on sale because of reorganisations within the diocese in 2013. It was sold in 2016 to investors who are planning to develop the palace into luxury apartments. Investors buying old buildings is not my favourite thing to happen in this world, but I guess I can’t do anything about it.
We will walk a bit further on the same street to Nieuwe Gracht 7. It was home to a man called Willem Philip Barnaart, that’s why it’s also called the Barnaartshuis (House of Barnaart), who was a member of the state and a mayor. Willem wanted to renovate his house but eventually decided to construct a completely new home. Construction started on 26th of January 1804. The coach house and the coachman’s house from the old building remained intact. In 1807 Napoleon Bonaparte visited Barnaart.
After several owners, the house was eventually bought by a non-profit organisation called Vereniging Hendrick de Keyser that buys important and historic Dutch buildings to renovate them in its original way. Every year this organisation buy between five and ten buildings a year. And as of now, they own 390 buildings in 94 cities and towns in The Netherlands.
Now we are going to Ridderstraat, Korte Jansstraat to end up at the St. Josephkerk. Before the St. Josephkerk was built (1841-1843), there was already a community of beguines. They lived and worked in the surroundings of the church for centuries before this church was established.
Continue to the Jansstraat and then go to the Janskerk. The church and its monastery were built in 1310-1318. Until 1625, these two buildings formed the seat of Haarlem of the Commandery of Sint Jan that was established in 1310. The Commandery of Sint Jan was a wealthy monastery as many famous painters received assignments from the monastery such as Jan van Scorel and Maarten van Heemskerck. It was built as a catholic church. However, in the 16th century was confiscated by the protestants and masses were forbidden in 1581.
From 1587 until 1930 the church was used for the reformed worship. In 1799, the church received another function. It was a shelter for prisoned English and Russian militaries who unfortunately failed to liberate The Netherlands from the French during the Battle of Castricum. The diaconate of the reformed church wanted to demolish the church to create buildings for the elderly. Luckily the municipality of Haarlem prevented this terrible situation, and they bought the church and relocated the city archives of Haarlem in this building. You can visit the city archives and Janskerk in Haarlem, click here for more information.
Go to the Ceciliasteeg, Korte Wijngaardstraat and stop at Korte Wijngaardstraat 2. This stunning building has been a national monument since 1969 and was built in the middle of the 17th century. Continue your walking tour in Haarlem to the Kruisstraat, Lange Margarethastraat, Ursulastraat and to the next courtyard: Luthers Hofje.
This was founded by the Lutheran congregation for elderly Lutheran women in 1615. It’s built on the grounds an old orchard that belonged to the former monastery of the Norbertines. These monks were mostly known for their white robes and were also called ‘Witte Heren’ or white gentlemen. Fun fact: The street where you can find the Luthers courtyard is Witte Herenstraat, which refers to the monks.
The courtyard originally had four homes, but it was expanded to nine in 1648. In 1982, the yard was renovated, and eight houses were combined, which made four bigger houses. There is still one small house that has the original measurements of the 16th century. You can visit the courtyard from Monday- Saturday 10:00- 17:00.
After this courtyard, we will discover yet another almshouse in Haarlem, Frans Loenenhofje. It was established as housing for older women in 1607. The legacy of Frans Klaeszoon Loenen fully paid for the courtyard. The almshouse is located on the part of the old orchard of the Norbertines, just as Luthers Hofje. The orchard was, as much as they could, left intact, that’s why you will also see fruit trees in this garden in Haarlem.
In 1607, the Frans Loenenhofje had eleven rooms for poor and single women. Then in 1609, the courtyard got expanded with five rooms. Nowadays there are ten houses in the yard, simply because some were connected. The entry to this courtyard in Haarlem is wheelchair friendly.
Make your way through the Zijlstraat and after that head to Nieuwe Groenmarkt 16. Here you will find the second oldest roman catholic church in Haarlem that is built in 1844. Unfortunately, this church is currently for sale, but as long as it hasn’t been sold, you can visit the church daily from 14:00-16:00.
Onto the next courtyard: Hofje van Oorschot. This courtyard is the legacy of the unmarried rich man of Wouterus van Oorschot. He wanted twelve houses in the yard, six of whom were for one person and the other six for two people. He also was buried in the Bavo church, and his grave wasn’t cleared the first 200 years. The courtyard was founded two years after van Oorschot died. This courtyard is not opened up for the public, but you can see it very well from the street. The houses in the yard were only inhabited by the maid of van Oorschot and her family. The rest of the houses were empty for twenty years. After that time, the other houses were finally inhabited by fifty plus women who were members of the Dutch Reformed Church.
Walk to Barteljorisstraat and then to Grote Markt 17. This building is one of the oldest monument in Haarlem, and it partly dates back to the 13th century. From 1250- 1350 it was the first town hall in Haarlem after the town hall was relocated to the current city hall, this building was just a house. At around 1650 the city hall was changed into an ordinary building, later on, it was the building for the civic guard. It became a central guarding post on the Grote Markt in Haarlem. From this place, the city gates were opened and closed, plus the public order was maintained.
Now go to the Waalse Kerk, or Walloon church. This is a Calvinist church in Haarlem, The Netherlands. The members of the Walloon church are actually descendants from people who are from the Southern Netherlands and French. In this church, the language that people speak is French. This church is the oldest in Haarlem and created in 1348. There are frescoes in this church that date back to the 14th century. The Waalse Kerk was a church were many refugees sought their peace, especially during the 16th and 17th century. For instance, in the 16th-century Flemish protestant were fleeing from the catholic Spaniards and 20.000 refugees in total arrived in Haarlem which included quite a few Walloons.
Continue to Begijnhof 24. It is the only remaining house of Haarlems medieval Begijnhof, or Beguine courtyard. From now go to Bakenessergracht, Korte Begijnestraat, Lange Begijnestraat and Hofje van Bakenes.
This is the oldest known courtyard in The Netherlands and was founded by Dirck van Bakenes in 1395. There are twenty houses, and the women had to be sixty years or older to be able to live here. You can leave a small donation in the money box in the courtyard which helps to maintain this beautiful, quiet area in Haarlem. As with the other yards, don’t look inside their homes as people live here. There’s one exception here, between the houses 11j and 11k there is a particular regent room. You can have a look at this room through the window, but only inside this one. You can visit the courtyard from Monday- Saturday 10:00- 17:00.
Now we will go to Damstraat 21 where you can find the house of Pieter Teyler van der Hulst and his wife Helena Wijnand Verschaave which dates back to the 17th century. He is the founder of the Teylers Hofje and Teylers Museum. The Teylers Museum is behind this house and is connected as well. The legacy of Teyler van der Hulst states that this house cannot be sold.
We’re almost at the end of our self-guided and free walking tour in Haarlem. Continue to Berkrodesteeg, Lange Veerstraatand Oude Groenmarkt 23. At the last location, you will see short houses that were made against the Grote Kerk in Haarlem in the 18th century.
Last, but certainly not least: Grote Kerk, or Sint Bavokerk, in Haarlem. Some parts of this church date back to the 14th century. The tower of the church was finished in 1520 after the construction of two years. Many famous and wealthy people have been buried in this church. For instance, Frans Hals is buried under the choir in the Grote Kerk since 1666.
Find more information about visiting the Grote Kerk in Haarlem here
Get the full map with all the locations of the free walking tour in Haarlem here
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Perfect day trips from Haarlem
Visit Alkmaar beyond the cheese market
Discover the magical fishing town of Hoorn
Experience the secrets of Amsterdam and go beyond the crowds
Find one of the most beautiful villages in The Netherlands: De Rijp
Explore the best tulip fields near Haarlem and surroundings without tourists
Travel to the best beach near Haarlem
I hope that this self-guided and free walking tour for Haarlem will help you to explore one of the beautiful Dutch cities with one of the best activities to do in one day in Haarlem. This tour in Haarlem will be your best guide for exploring Haarlem beyond the church, cathedral and other highlights. You will discover more than the best things to see and do in Haarlem in 24 hours; this travel blog will take you to the must-sees in Haarlem that aren’t on anyone else’s bucket list.
Find Haarlem its old town, town hall, parks, and plenty of more. This guide for a walking tour in Haarlem will show you why Haarlem is one of the best day tours from Amsterdam. Add this Haarlem walking route to your one day, or weekend, Haarlem itinerary. And I can guarantee you that this is one of the best free things to do in Haarlem and you will experience why Haarlem is worth visiting. Share this post!
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