Amsterdam and Haarlem sleeping

Stayed in Leiden on a canal and loved it…..walked to the train to travel to Keukenhof, Corrie Ten Boom house, Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank house. Posted a trip report for April 2025 if you need more info…loved walking around Amsterdam but enjoyed the smaller quieter streets of Leiden at night. DM me if you want more info!

I wouldn’t change hotels or locations. Choose 1 for 4 nights and stick to it otherwise you lose a lot of time in logistics. We stayed four nights in Amsterdam and on our last full day took the train to Haarlem for a marvelous day including the Corrie ten Boom museum.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of Amsterdam (maybe too much bike dodging at the end of a long trip.) I loved the quaint charm of Haarlem but we were visiting all the big sites of Amsterdam and I’m not sure I would have wanted to commute in for 3 days.

Jane’s post about Leiden is intriguing for my next visit.

Thank you Jane and KD!
I'm leaning towards staying in Amsterdam since there are so many museums there. I think we'll really enjoy our day to the Haarlem, though. I know Rick Steves describes Haarlem as "airport convenient" and this will be our first time flying out of AMS, but this sounds much less expensive and quicker to get to than, CDG from Paris, for example and it doesn't sound easier to get to the airport from Haarlem than from Amsterdam from what I've read. I did buy plane tickets already.

If Amsterdam is the main goal of your visit, it makes a lot of sense to actually stay there. The historical city center is compact and walkable. It doesn’t have a big city feel to me. If you stay in the Museumquarter near the museums like the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum you won’t feel like you’re in a big city.

I’m not sure why Rick Steves would call Haarlem “airport friendly “ . I’m not saying it isn’t, but isn’t more airport friendly than Amsterdam, Leiden or even Rotterdam and Utrecht.

In my opinion it is a toss up, but you may have sticker shock for hotel prices in Amsterdam proper. Cameron Hewitt (RS guidebook writer) posted about the price increases and Haarlem/Amsterdam on Facebook last year https://www.facebook.com/HewittCameron/posts/a-few-days-ago-amsterdam-announced-a-new-policy-barring-the-construction-of-near/938781590956702/

FWIW, I liked staying in Amsterdam proper, if nothing to have a spot to rest in the middle of a long day.

Thank you!
Yes, I'm aware of their tax increase. I'm looking at De Ware Jacob but am open to other ideas. Staying in the museum area would be ideal, I think.

I stayed in, and really loved, both Haarlem and Amsterdam, 8 or 9 days total. I did it this way so I could splurge on my Amsterdam hotel for a few nights while using Haarlem as a more affordable base for more day trips. But I wound up really liking Haarlem itself especially in the evenings. Based on what you’ve described as priorities, I’d recommend staying in Amsterdam, but make a day of your visit to Haarlem & maybe stick around for dinner and drinks in the evening…the main square has a fun low key vibe & there’s a great old pub just off the square (in dev uiver). It’s really easy to travel between the two cities by train. In Amsterdam I stayed on a side canal close the Anne Frank house which was a good location…lots going on in the area but didn’t feel overly crowded or busy.

Thank you, Maggie, I appreciate your advice. I'm looking now at Owl Hotel in Amsterdam, due to a forum member's recommendation and good location. They are not booking for June yet but replied to my email to check in December.

I would like to visit the St Bavo church in Haarlem as well as the Ten Boom House.

We spent four nights in Haarlem and loved it. It's easy getting to AMS- take the #300 bus direct to the airport. I'm going back spring, 2026, in fact. We also enjoyed Leiden, and it difficult to choose between the two.
Have a great trip!

pbscd, I want to add that I'm not exaggerating when I say to book your Corrie ten Boom museum tickets now. Yes, now for next June. If you have your travel dates booked, choose a Haarlem day. They only have 3 tours a day / 5 days a week. (No tours on Sunday or Monday.) The house is small so the tour groups are very small and they book out well in advance. It was an incredible opportunity and it's a really wonderful personal tour.

Pat, are you willing to share what area or the name of your hotel in Haarlem? Did you go into Amsterdam several days then? If so, how was that?

I will look again at Leiden and Haarlem but I am leaning towards the museum quarter (I know that's not its proper name) in Amsterdam. Owl Hotel looked reasonable and they said to get back to them in December.

KD, Yes! I got my tickets for the Ten Boom House actually in August. :) I am going to mark my calendar for getting tickets to the Anne Frank House and Rijksmuseum too (and probably Van Gogh?)

We loved Hotel Boutique Staats in Haarlem. It's in a quiet residential area, yet a two minute walk to the train station. We went into Amsterdam three times, it was so easy. And we really loved Haarlem. Make sure you take one of the smaller canal cruises, which offers great scenery and info on the culture and history. I've attached my Trip Report.
Enjoy this beautiful country!

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/the-netherlands-belgium-april-2024-brought-the-rain-pants-needed-the-rain-pants

Thank you! I did read your trip report earlier, I guess I forgot the details, though. I see your hotel is adults only, my daughter is (and still will be) 16 when we are there. I've run into that for a few hotels.
I'll re-read it again today. :)

I stayed in Haarlem at the beginning of a trip and Amsterdam at the end. I like Haarlem much better. With all the bikes whizzing all over the place, I did not enjoy walking around Amsterdam. It was not remotely relaxing. Amsterdam is a little more convenient, but getting there from Haarlem was easy and fast.

If you find a place to stay that you like in Amsterdam, it’s not a bad choice. Whatever works for you.

The adults-only hotel was in Leiden, and they were mainly concerned about babies and toddlers screams and jumping around. Maybe contact them. There were children in Boutique Staats, and all- day long snacks!