Corrie ten boom house / Haarlem, Netherlands / book 4-5 months in advance

Oh! What a bummer! Thank you for sharing!

Pat, I'm sorry to hear that. However, one thing you might do is to just show up and see if you can get in. I did not book ahead but managed to get a ticket for the first tour of the morning (granted, this was in 2018). That said, because the tickets are free, I'd be willing to bet that a lot of people book and then just don't show up.

It would be worth a shot if you're going to be in Haarlem anyway, I think.

Thanks for sharing. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Ten Boom House. I read the book as a teenager, was privileged to hear Corrie speak as a college student, and have often thought of how she demonstrated authentic faith. First in risking it all in saving the lives of Jews during Nazi occupation and then her ability to finally forgive those who had persecuted her in the concentration camps.

I hope you find a way to visit there someday.

We hope and plan to visit this historical house this coming August. I loved her book and also was privileged to be at a women’s church conference with Corrie Ten Boom as the presenter. Some things she spoke about are engrained in my memory! Wonderful inspirational woman!
Could you please help me by explaining when or how to get in…tickets? Am I too late? Thank you.

All2alb, here is a link to the website: https://www.corrietenboom.com/en/home

Thank you Mardee! We are in!! Wonderful it’s free. Will want to donate!

Sorry Pat. ☹ This won’t help you now, but for future trips, when you have to buy tickets on-line, if you advance the reservation calendar, you can see how far in advance you can purchase tickets.

In looking at the reservation calendar for the Corrie Ten Boom house, tickets can be booked a year in advance.

Pat…I am dissapointed for you also and meant to express that. I had checked Anne Frank House first for reservations….that you cannot do until 6 wks prior. I then was assuming I had to wait also for Corrie Ten Boom house to reserve. So I appreciate your post and heads up…very kind to do that!

I was following our favorite travel writer's guide, and my version said to book about ten days out. We will be there late April. Had I known, I. could have booked nine months ago, whatever.......it's a challenge keeping track of what you want to see, and when each source makes tickets available, and trying to have some flexibility.
Guess I'll have to return......

Carrie, I'm confused, is there an advanced ticket calendar that includes dates for several major Dutch sites?

Well Pat….I too have been a big fan/follower of RS guidebooks. With European travel the last few years during Covid…and we did 2 trips….learned that Rick’s latest travel book advise….was “pre-Covid” advise. So many tour/travel sites became very selective, timed and ticketed. It’s been a huge travel change!! I know he is working to update his guidebooks. Another “side effect” of the epidemic.
If I were you I try to go when there. Being free… like above poster said….cancellations more likely! I would not give up!

I have been quite disappointed with the "updated" guidebooks that RS has been putting out lately. Now I imagine it is a tremendous challenge to update these books. I am not discounting that. However, it is clear that only portions are updated and the rest is recycled. I end up doing what I do when I buy a used RS guidebook at the Goodwill which is find places that interest me and then go online to find current information. It really makes for very little incentive to buy new books.

Always make sure that you just don't accept what the guidebook is telling you is current. Go online and find out what is.

Maybe I should book for next year! 😉 The more I research, the more I already want to go back to the Low Countries again, and I haven't been there yet for the first time! (Thanks Carrie!)
I will email RS regarding several updates I've found already. I can't find a publication date in the RS Guide I have.
I booked these flights last July when I found an incredible business class fare. I could have booked Corrie ten Boon house then.
Whatever, life is good, and as long as the body holds up, and there isn't another pandemic, I'm great. Thanks to all for the comments!

I can't find a publication date in my RS Guidebook, and the email address for updates doesn't seem to be working???
Oh, well, life is great!

Pat, We had reservations but some who did not came and were able to get in. You just never know. Get there early though, as there was a line for those with reservations and those without when we were there.

Hi Pat,
It looks like you can submit guide book update input here:

https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/guidebook-updates

Pat, We had reservations but some who did not came and were able to get in. You just never know. Get there early though, as there was a line for those with reservations and those without when we were there.

Diane, I agree - I mentioned that above as that happened with me. I really think, Pat, that you might be able to get in just by showing up. I was able to do this, and as I said, because the tickets are free, many people book but some don't bother showing up. Of course, if that's your only reason for going to Haarlem, you might not want to take the chance, but if you planned a trip there regardless, it's worth a shot. Get there early.

Thanks all for the encouragement. I can't see my husband standing in line waiting, but maybe something will work out, as we are in Haarlem a few days .
Hopefully this info has helped others.

THANKS for the reminder!!!!
We are headed back to the Netherlands in July, and I had the Corrie Ten Boomhuis on our agenda since we failed to get in on the English tour when we were there last year. When I saw this post, I figured I should check to see if my date was available yet and it was. And what's more pertinent is that many dates ahead and behind were NOT. IOW, we almost missed out AGAIN through poor pre-planning.
I got my e-mail back from them confirming our date & time, so now I have to start building some further details for that time in Haarlem. Always open to suggestions :)

I booked tickets last June ('23) for this coming April ('24) . But, I had no idea they sold out so far in advance. I just happened to look at the website when we were planning our trip to Amsterdam. When I was an early teen, Corrie ten Boom spoke at my church, and it made a big impression on me. What I didn't know back then, was at age 85 she had moved to Southern California, and was only living 35 miles away when she spoke at my church.

Our reservation does say that if we are not there when the tour begins, awaiting visitors will take our place. So, there is a possibility that you may be able to join a tour last minute.

I emailed this info to the RS Updates site, so I hope they'll share and save more folks grief. So happy you all will have the opportunity to visit. Enjoy your trips!

Same for me...I tried in January to book tickets for May (thought that would be enough time) but alas all the English-speaking tickets were gone. I emailed to see if they would allow me to take a Dutch-speaking tour (I have read the book and would love to see the home even without understanding the guide), but this was not allowed either. Guess I will just have to come back on a future trip.

I also missed out on seeing the Ten Boom house because all the English tickets were sold out. While it isn't the same as being there, I enjoyed the virtual tour offered by them on their website. It has some videos and information pop-ups that appear as you move from room to room.

Read the book and saw the original move with Julie Harris years ago and went to the house about ten years ago and it was so worth it. Hope you all can visit. Just recently a new movie came out again called the Hiding Place and is shown in limited occasions and well worth seeing it. Good luck