Haarlem Walking Tour: Dive into Culture, History, Art and Architecture

Immerse yourself in the rich culture, history, art, and architecture of Haarlem on a captivating walking tour. Discover the city’s fascinating story with a knowledgeable local guide and gain insights into its medieval and Renaissance times. Uncover hidden gems, receive sightseeing tips, and indulge in local cuisine. Enhance your journey through the Low Countries by recognizing famous architectural styles and understanding the stories behind them.

Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Grote Markt - This original tour of Haarlem covers many of the city’s best loved places, including the Grote Kerk of Sint Bavo, the historic town market square Grote Markt, the Town Hall Gravenzaal, the Molen Adriaan Windmill, the Teylers Museum, a beautiful Hofje (Almshouse) with it’s secret walled garden and many many more beautiful buildings, you will discover the history of Dutch architecture and hear about the Medieval town, the Golden Age, Haarlem in the Second World War and hear stories about the city’s most famous residents and visitors.

If you love History, Art, Architecture culture and photography then this tour was made for you.

What's Included
  • Certified English-speaking guide
  • Walking tour
  • All fees and/or taxes
What's Not Included
  • A tip for the guide
  • Caveat Emptor - When visiting on a Sunday all the Hofjes in Haarlem are closed for public viewing.
  • The Hofjes close daily at 5pm therefore the Summer tours starting at 5pm do not go inside the Hofjes
Additional Information

Explore the intriguing history of Haarlem in an intimate group, escorted by a local guide who is a native English speaker.

Bean for its Beer, Linen, and Tulips, Haarlem boasts of a vibrant and rich history filled with sieges, conflicts, fires, and subsequent rebuildings. This comprehensive tour encompasses a variety of elements such as Art, Architecture, Life, Death, and the High Culture of Late Medieval and Renaissance eras. With tips for optimal sightseeing, recommendations for must-visit spots and local dining options, the tour ensures that you make the most of your time in Haarlem.

We culminate the tour at a picturesque rooftop terrace, or at a local craft brewery if that aligns with the group’s interest.

If your travel itinerary includes other destinations in the Low Countries after Haarlem, this tour will amplify your experience. It will equip you with the ability to identify and understand the renowned architectural styles, comprehend the purpose of the buildings and provide some insight into their historical occupants.

  • Not recommended for travellers with difficulty walking (the tour covers 4 km or 2.5 miles)
Location
Water Tap
Grote Markt
In the Grote Markt (main square) next to the entrance of the Grote Kerk of Sint Bavo (great church) there is an enormous Statue of Laurens Jansz Coster holding up a letter A, this is the meeting point and starting point for the tour. Grote Markt, 2011 NZ Haarlem 9JJP+HJ Haarlem
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(48 Ratings)
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Jgjfussell
Jul 25, 2024
Just very nice. - A smaller quieter city, just 20 minutes by train from Amsterdam. Still beautiful with many museums and old buildings to wet the appetite of any visitor. Lots of restaurants and coffee shops. Besides that it is the city where I was born so of course special for me.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gordon_s
Jul 10, 2024
James gives a wonderful intro to Haarlem - James met us and one other couple at the right time and place. He speaks English as a native speaker. The walk is easy and flat. He has a solid handle on Haarlem's history- political, religious, architectural, artistic, and cultural. His priorities of sites to see and discuss was spot on. We would highly recommend his tour.
Review provided by Viator
Arkadiy_v
Jun 24, 2024
Great walking tour of Haarlem - The most memorable was walking tour under rain. Still James has done a great job introducing Haarlem hisyory/art.
Review provided by Viator
Willia_w
Jun 12, 2024
Wonderful tour! - James was very knowledgeable and showed us many sites we would never have seen otherwise. Great tour!
Review provided by Viator
Debbie
Jun 11, 2024
Day trip to Haarlem - James was very knowledgeable on the history and architecture of Haarlem. He answered all of our questions and we learned a lot from him. He made it fun and he was flexible. Because we had a small group we were able to go inside the church in the square which was not part of the tour. He even spent more time with us to make sure we saw everything. I highly recommend this tour
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alex_k
Jun 11, 2024
Highly intelligent tour operator - It is a small group tour , as understand, but in this case there were just two of us. Tour guide James Johnson is a highly intelligent person with deep knowledge of arts, panting, history, etc. We were very impressed.
Review provided by Viator
Acmparks
Jun 3, 2024
Honeymoon Fun - James was a fantastic tour guide and he only does small groups so there was plenty of time for questions and additional stories. We were able to rest when needed and ended at the pub where we had burgers and bitterballen with beer made from historic recipes. Absolutely wonderful day out.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jody_v
May 22, 2024
Excellent Tour - Small group tour ended up being a private tour and it was excellent. We’ve done several tours on our European tour this year and this one was definitely the best. Our guide was very detailed, knowledgeable and articulate. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Travelor_7
May 13, 2024
Enriched our visit. - James was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. He added so much to our appreciation and enjoyment of Haarlem. One small suggestion: It might be nice to add a brief stop for a local snack and a chance to get off our feet. Thanks so much for making our day in Haarlem memorable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Donna
Jun 23, 2024
Wonderful walking tour! - A great walking tour with lots of history, small stories and interesting sights! My guide used an iPad to enhance the story with images. Recommend for those interested in architecture, history and locale.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 6 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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