French fries in haarlem

I don't know about the best but this place is very, very good. From the ice cream shop under the cathedral go due south (I think it is south - direct away from the church) about a half block. A little hole in the wall on the left not much wider than a couple of doors. Since there is almost no space inside, you may see people standing around outside eating fries. There are a couple of small tables and chairs. There is also a nice restaurant across the street from the shop. The times we have been there the operator has been very chatty in between customers. Once asked his favorite sauce and he said his favorite was a mixture of three sauce. He then make the sauce for us. Great spice. Wish I had paid attention to the mixture because it was very good. We were staying in the hotel around the corner so over the years we have been there maybe a dozen times or more. Between the fry shop and ice cream store, our snacks are well covered.

You didn't ask -- but during the day there is a herring wagon in the piazza in front the city government building -- opposite the church. Worth a stop or two. And there is the brewery in an old church SW of the piazza a couple blocks. Ask for directions. I think it is call. Church Brewery. We love Haarlem. In the evening it is so much more friendly, laid back, relaxing than Amsterdam.

I’m in Haarlem now and there’s a place near the train station that is always crowded. If you are at the station and head down the main road to the square, it is about 1.5-2 blocks on the left side of the street. I haven’t tried it because I came from Belgium and am fried out. 😀

If you haven’t already done so, be sure to walk over to see the windmill. I’ve become a little obsessed with it trying to get the perfect picture.

My brother recommended De Vlaamsche Reus and when we went last year we were not disappointed. A small hole in the wall with a lot of people outside eating their friets. Location: Nieuwstraat 6, 2011 GH Harlem.

Places that do the second frying in front of you. We have had no problem with fry stands on the streets. They are so good that you don’t need mayonnaise or other condiments that you pay for separately.

The one close to the train station is the Friethoes (Kruisweg 43) and is highly regarded as it was one of the first using organic potatoes. Frietkamer in de Zijlstraat 31 is highly recommended (my first choice). De Haerlemsche Vlaamse in the Spekstraat 3 on the south side of the Grote or Bavokerk (this is not the cathedral as that one is a bit outside of the city centre) is getting good reviews. Chique des Frites on the Botermarkt has nice toppings.