Haarlem to Amsterdam

It's 15 minutes by train so perfectly possible. And there are probably many that commute between the cities daily. But don't underestimate Haarlem itself, it's a charming town.

Our 3 weeks of travels ended in Amsterdam. Although we saw some wonderful things in Amsterdam; it was also crowded and we were tired of dodging bikes nonstop. We spent our last day on a pre planned day in Haarlem. It was charming and lovely and we would stay there next time we are in Amsterdam.

I would compare it to what would feel like a commute from the suburbs into the city. With that said, it attracts plenty of tourists so are you going to live like a local? Hmmm

We stayed in Haarlem for the same reason in May. Our planning was a bit late and room rates were high in Amsterdam. We stayed at Frenchie Hotel and Restaurant near the center of Haarlem. It was very comfortable and friendly! We loved Haarlem especially the proximity to the ocean. The week we were there however, the trains between Haarlem and Amsterdam were down for maintenance. There were no trains running anywhere from the Haarlem station. Evidently, locals told us, this happens about 4 times a year. There was excellent bus service set up, but instead of 15 minutes, it was more like an hour. The bus dropped us off at the Schiphol train station where we caught the train to Amsterdam Centrale. We met a very nice Dutch guy at the train station the first morning who said “just follow me!” He walked us all the way thru even out the right door of Centrale! We were given a packet of wildflower seeds by the train people for the inconvenience! On the day we left, the trains were running again. We left for Delft and could see how easy it would off been to have taken the train. It was one of those unexpected things you just roll with!

For a trip that’s focused on Amsterdam, I would stay in Amsterdam. Not in Haarlem, not in Leiden, not anywhere else.
I’m also not sure why it’s relevant that there are locals who commute to Amsterdam from Haarlem. They are of course there, but these locals take the train early in the morning to one of the outer suburbs of Amsterdam like Sloterdijk or the Zuidas where the large office buildings are located. Not into the historical city center where the museums etc are. At the end of the work day these locals take the train back to Haarlem and go home. Is that how you want to spend your day?
Besides that, luckily enough there are still plenty of people who both live and work in Amsterdam. So you can see plenty of locals on their daily commute, even when you stay in Amsterdam.

With that said, it attracts plenty of tourists so are you going to live like a local? Hmmm

Perfectly possible to "live like a local" in Amsterdam (or Haarlem). It's one of the most comfortable cities someone with English as their first language can do it. Rent an apartment in a residential area, get a bike, get your groceries at the local mart or Albert Heijn, eat somewhere local that doesn't serve Rijsttafel to tourists. I've enjoyed staying in De Pijp in Amsterdam. That's somewhere you can live like a local easily and still be in touch with the centre of town. Oud-west is hip and nice and still an easy bike ride from town.

I've only visited Haarlem, so I can't say anything about staying there, but it's not far at all and Dutch trains are largely excellent. I haven't checked timetables, but I'd imagine there would be trains back to Haarlem really late if you're out in Amsterdam.

Lots of people on here like Leiden. A bit further away than Haarlem, but a proper living, breathing Dutch city that is a pleasant place to be too.

I know that Amsterdam to Haarlem trains run 24/7, a basic hourly service in the wee small hours.
They are Rotterdam bound trains.

In addition to trains, there also regular (night) buses. A few go to Amsterdam’s various hubs with only a few intermediate stops and, depending where you have to be, shorter travel times.

For example, if I want to go to the Concertgebouw/Museum Quarter from Haarlem city center, where I live, I have multiple options: train to Amsterdam Sloterdijk or Amsterdam Centraal to get a tram or the bus to Amstelveenseweg or Amsterdam Zuid, followed by a tram. There is not much time difference. I prefer train over busses, but a bus stop could be nearer to where you plan to stay than getting to the Haarlem train station.

Use the NS or 9292 apps for travel advice, which will include all modes of public transport to get you from A to B..

When on a longer stay I always like to come closest as a visitor can to living like the locals do.

If that's what you want, I suggesting renting a bike when you're there and just riding to/from Amsterdam every time. It's only like 15 miles each way, and a great way to see both cities, the countryside around them, and have a true Dutch experience every day. And zip between museums, restaurants, and other places in a quarter the time as walking.

I do agree with other folks that suggest you stay in Amsterdam if your plans are mostly/solely for Amsterdam. Haarlem has its own charms and things to see, but I wouldn't choose to base there if I was focused on Amsterdam.

Haarlem works well, another option is Leiden, about the same train ride, but closer to the airport. Both are fine, as long as you are not looking at late nights in Amsterdam (the last trains leave just before midnight)

Both towns also have active nightlife, good restaurants and bars, shops, and some interesting sights on their own.

More information on the night bus from Amsterdam to Haarlem can be found here: https://www.connexxion.nl/en/our-routes/travel-areas/haarlem-ijmond/travel-information/niteliner.

Information on late/night trains is here: https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information/special-routes/night-trains.html. As mentioned on that page, the NS app will provide you travel options late evening/night.

We were in Amsterdam at the beginning and end of a trip to Africa about seven years ago. We stayed in Haarlem at the beginning and loved it. The train ride to Amsterdam was fast and easy. At the end of the trip, we stayed in Amsterdam. It was fine, but I enjoyed staying in Haarlem more. It was more relaxing.

Y’all are making me very happy with our choice to rent a house in Haarlem for the first five nights of our trip to Amsterdam next month. It will be me, my sister-in-law, and my two nieces for a girls' week. For the last three nights, three of us will move into a hotel in Amsterdam. But I am totally excited for our coming Haarlem experience !

Be sure to book tickets to the Ten Boom Museum. To me it was the highlight of our stay in Haarlem.

August is a great time to visit Haarlem (and to prepare you); here will be a music festival with a few stages dotted over the city center and food festivals on the Grote Markt and in the Kenaupark. More information here: https://www.visithaarlem.com/en/ and check the agenda/calendar.

There will be the Formula 1 race in Zandvoort 29-31 August and trains and buses may be crowded, especially in the afternoon when people go back in the direction of Amsterdam.

Do rent a bike and go to Bloemendaal aan Zee for a day on the beach. Sandy beach with multiple beach clubs like De Republiek or Woodstock.

A great feature of these forums is the diversity of opinion they offer.

I have visited Amsterdam. Once. I stayed in Amsterdam. On that trip, I visited Haarlem. If I return to Amsterdam because I largely want to spend time in Amsterdam, I will again stay in Amsterdam. If you are staying in Haarlem with the intent to spend most of your time in Amsterdam, there is not only the travel time, but the time to navigate Amsterdam's main train station, to consider.

And then ironically, there is the appeal of the centrally located (or even fairly centrally located) hotel. You can save money by staying on the outskirts of--and you can find charming neighborhoods and towns outside of--most major cities in Europe. For whatever reason, Amsterdam seems one of the few exceptions to the RS mantra to stay near the attractions you want to visit.

Now if you are staying in Haarlem because you want to spend time there, that's different.

I wouldn't recommend it. The trains have shut down several times this summer because of strikes, and more strikes are likely to occur. It's worth paying a little more to make sure you can actually get to Amsterdam.

BTW, you will have Sail Amsterdam from 20th of August onwards: https://www.sail.nl/en. A must attend experience.

No train strikes have yet been announced and you will have bus options to get to Amsterdam and back.

Do rent a bike and go to Bloemendaal aan Zee for a day on the beach. Sandy beach with multiple beach clubs like De Republiek or Woodstock.

Great suggestion, @BarneyNL. It's just a short (14mile/22km) cycling loop out from Haarlem, to the beach at Bloemendaal aan Zee, down past the Zaandvort F1 track, through Zaandvort, and back to Haarlem. A great way to spend a couple hours, half a day, or all day.

I wonder if the F1 race would make that are nuts at that time - even on a bike. It would be neat to see the race, but even just spending a bit of time hearing the race across the way would be cool. But not if it was crazy busy and/or super loud.

Or 8km (5miles) from Haarlem to Bloemendaal aan Zee one way ;-). You will pass a Field of Honor with the graves of some 377 resistance fighters executed by the Nazis in the dunes during WW2 on the way there and a 2* Michelin restaurant on your way back in case you are still hungry.

The only way to get to the F1 race is by bike (freely made available for pick up in Haarlem), bus or train.

There have already been 4 shutdowns so far. The unions are saying there will be more. They don't usually give out a schedule in advance. Other transportation options will likely be overcrowded and slow during a train strike.

Contrary to the post just above, so-called “wild strikes” are extremely rare in the Netherlands. This means that strikes, including railway strikes, are usually announced in advance. Just last week KLM and Schiphol successfully took legal action against an announced strike by KLM luggage handlers. The unions respected the court order that forbade them to strike.
The railway strikes in June, were all announced well in advance also.

and a 2* Michelin restaurant on your way back in case you are still hungry.

Well, @barney, you made me hungry and wonder where it was and I see Restaurant De Bokkedoorns which Michelins says:

A veritable culinary institution, De Bokkedoorns was established in 1961 and has held on to its two MICHELIN stars for the past 30 years. Owner Pascal Beeren, who represents the third generation of this family to run the restaurant, likes to personally give his diners a warm welcome. Modern luxury meets plush comfort in this inviting space, where stunning views of the surrounding natural beauty evoke a sense of serenity. Roy Eijkelkamp is also a stalwart of the restaurant, having worked here under the tutelage of Lucas Rive, who taught him the art of bringing intensity and depth to sauces – remember to save some bread so you can mop up every last drop! This chef champions a minimalist cooking style, creating unfussy dishes by preparing the finest ingredients in time-honoured tradition. Slivers of apricot, a brilliant carrot vinaigrette and parsley gel lend fruity notes to the ultra-fresh North Sea crab salad. Innovative flourishes keep his cuisine captivating. Complete with an expertly curated wine list, this is an extraordinary dining experience down to every last detail.
- https://guide.michelin.com/en/noord-holland/overveen/restaurant/de-bokkedoorns

I've added it to my "list" but odds are very long that I'm convincing my wife to splurge on it.

@Tom R, that is the one!! Check their lunch menu. Sometimes this is a more “cost-effective” option.

Last summer we stayed in Utrecht for a week, and we traveled into Amsterdam four days of that week. We also visited Leiden, Haarlem, Delft and Den Haag. Worked out very well, and lodging costs were half what we'd have spent in Amsterdam. It's only a 15-20 minute ride on the train.

@Ryan: We're on the same boat! I plan to visit Amsterdam for three nights after my RS tour next year. So far I'm having big sticker shock at how expensive hotels in the city can be; even for some of those so-called budget chains and the new 21% VAT comes next year only aggravates my problem.

Last night I finally booked a hotel (HIEX) next to Amsterdam Sloterdijk station as a compromise; the Intercity train will take me to the next station Amsterdam Centraal in just six minutes (non stop). Also after some price comparisons I found that booking directly with their website offered the best price after accounted for the new 21% VAT in 2026 (unlike many 3rd party online travel booking sites that still use the current 9% VAT).

EDIT:
Just came across this thread and now I have second thoughts about my choice :)

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/netherlands/hotel-city-center-vs-sloterdijk-station#:~:text=I%20found%20it%20to%20be,a%20good%20choice%20for%20lodging.

I've never stayed in Sloterdijk, but I'd consider it these days. A bit soulless, but really close on the train or a bike and it might be where you'd find deals.