Question about Haarlem

It is so incredibly easy to get to Haarlem via public transportation from Amsterdam city center. That said, your ship (it must be quite big?) is not docking city center. So it looks like you'd have to make a bus transfer or two. So, if you want to go to Haarlem, seems like the excursion is your best option. Total transportation time would be about an hour, so you'd have about three hours. Haarlem is lovely with lots to do, but you sure wouldn't have much time to see it.

I'm curious what other excursions they are offering. That port is really not close to much.

Haarlem was not my favorite place in the Netherlands, but I really enjoyed visiting the Corrie ten Boom Museum, which I highly recommend. It is the restored WWII hiding place where the ten Boom family sheltered Jewish refugees. That said, visiting the museum and seeing the places where they hid the Jews involves climbing narrow and winding stairs. I know you have some mobility issues, so you might want to check it out and see if it would work for you.

Plus you have to visit using their guided tour, which have limited times so I would definitely check those out and see if it works with your excursion times. https://www.corrietenboom.com/en

ETA: You might want to read this article by RS about Haarlem, which gives you a good look at the sights there: https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/highlights-of-haarlem

It’s not a large city but imo very charming, we walked around it in several hours. Please be aware that a number of museums are closed on Mondays and most shops don’t open up until that afternoon. Our mistake.

I love Haarlem and have stayed there twice.
What day of the week? The market days are lots of fun, are open all day. I know there's a Saturday one and maybe another week day.
Haarlem Canal Tours is a small, open boat whose local captain gives a great tour on all things Haarlem.
The organ at St. Bavo Church is huge and the self-guided tour is interesting. The gift shop has many nice souvenirs.
The tickets for Corrie ten Boom Haus are probably gone, but check availability. The tour is free, small group with guide, and touching.
Have a great trip !

If you want to do a canal tour, book that in advance as well. At least a few days.

If I had 4 hours, I'd go to Haarlem. I think it's so charming. There's just enough to do there that 4 hours seems perfect. We spent our last day in the Netherlands in Haarlem and enjoyed it. We did visit the Corrie ten Boom huis (had tickets months in advance) and walked around, had a leisurely lunch, walked around the canal and took the train back to Amsterdam.

You will be dropped off most likely in the heart of the city which is very walkable… mostly likely just off the Spaarne river close to the Damstraat. In addition to the day of the week, what are your interests? Sure the Frans Halsmuseum is not the Rijksmuseum or the Mauritshuis but you will see his militia group paintings that rarely move outside of Haarlem. The Teylers is a museum of its own.., your transported back to a museum in the 19th century.., Or just wonder around visiting the hofjes or almshouses. The tourist office is a short stroll away on the Grote Markt. What do you fancy?

Haarlem is not that big with the Grote Kerk always visible as your point to get back to. 45 minutes east-west and 45 minutes north-south.

Thanks to everyone for your responses.

I will try to thank you individually

I watched a video on the 10 best things to do in Haarlem. There was a couple of museums that if possible I would love to go in.

I love museums. I love parks. I love sitting and people watching. I love architecture. Love nature.

Not much of a shopper and I have. a strict diet because CKD.

jules m

I am going on a large ship, over 3,000, passengers but not one of the largest.

There are so many excursions that I will eventually post something about all the ones that interest me and that I am capable of doing.

Mardee

Thank you for the information and links.

I will research what you sent me and get back with you

And yes some stairs might be a problem

Thank you pat and margie

I have not even thought about what day of the week I will port at IJmuiden.. That is something to look into.

My cruise is not until September 2027, not this upcoming September, so I might have plenty of time to reserve tickets if I want to.

Love museums and love markets. I am not a big shopper but I might be at a market

Kd and Barney

As said, I love museums.

It sounds like I will be let off in the center where I am right in the action. I am right where it is happening.

I am thinking about Bruges where I had to walk a distance to get to the square but it sounds like in Haarlem, I will be dropped off right in the square and there will be things to see and do right where I am dropped off.

Have yo go back and see what day of the week I will be in Haarlem.

Until I began to do research today, I only knew the name, nothing more.

The organ at St. Bavo Church is huge

and pretty special too It was built in 1738. In my experience it is simply magnificent. I have spent hours listening to it.

https://www.bavo.nl/en/about-bavo-and-nieuwe-kerk/grote-of-st-bavo/organ/

"It was played by G.F. Händel in 1740 and 1750, who travelled to Haarlem especially for this purpose, and in 1766 the ten-year-old Mozart was on the organ. In summer the city organ concerts attract many visitors each week. This flocking of the public is even more supported during the biennial International Organ Festival."

You will mostly be dropped off 5 minutes from the Grote Markt with the Grote Kerk and almost in front of the Teylers Museum. Huis Barnaart (https://www.hendrickdekeyser.nl/house-barnaart) is a little known gem and one of the best examples of an Empire-style city palace of the early 1800’s in the Netherlands.

There are a few parks on the outskirts of the city (on the remains of the 17th city defenses) or parts of the last remaining bits of the medieval forrest after which Holland got its name (although landscaped in the 18th and 19th century). Also the dunes, but maybe for a next time.

jules m and other interested persons

There are 12 excursions offered for now but we have 14 months to go. Others might be added

I can not copy all the excursions that interest me. but they go to:

Broek in Waterland

Voldendam and Marken

Delft and The Hague

There are currently two excursions offered which would take me to Amsterdam. One is Amsterdam on Your own which is transport to a central spot in Amsterdam and then I have 6 hours on my own.

There is also a 4 hour excursion which includes canal rides in and around Amsterdam.

At this point, I prefer the non Amsterdam excursions.

All excursions are within budget. All are about the same length. As I get closer to choosing, I am going to do a lot more research and make certain that I am able to do them as far as mobility.

Hello Nigel

I watched a couple of very good youtube videos on Haarlem and they did mention the church and the organ.

Liked what I heard and read but I have a lot of research to do before making a decision.

Sometimes having too many choices is as difficult as not having enough.

Good thing that I am beginning this early.

Thank you for the information Barney __NL

As with most shore excursions, there will not be enough time. There never is.

Nigel, thanks for the link with the organ music. I have never been there during concert season.

Nigel

I just discovered the link with organ music.

Beautiful, awesome and inspiring ...

on one trip to Haarlem (usually April every year) I was there in September and was taken on a tour of roof space of the cathedral - it was so incredibly interesting. There are only a couple of these tours each year, usually on open monument day, so I don't want to try to tempt you, just to say that the whole building is wonderful, not just the organ. Many people won't consider a trip inside, but if you do it is so worth it.

Nigel

why would persons not consider going into St Balvo?

Are you talking about going to the roof of the church? Why was it so wonderful?

I do not have a fear of heights per se but I have to feel safe. If there is any chance that a person could fall off, I might have.a problems.

I love the idea of Open Monuments Day. Truthfully I do not quite know what it is but i love the way it sounds. I love monuments as well as museums.

I'd recommend reading or at least watching the video of the Hiding Place before you go. And yes to St Bavo's. There are some really fun details within the church.

Open Monumentendagen are on September 12 and 13 with access to monuments otherwise closed: https://www.openmonumentendag.nl/ (in Dutch). Typically, you can climb the tower and the vaults between the ceiling and the roof Nigel is referring to. These are off limits on other days. It is not too tricky and risky as otherwise this would not be allowed.

regarding going in to the Cathedral, some people just don't. I don't know why they don't. I do. You do.

As said just above, the visit was just below the roof, over the ceiling, inside. A long way up, lots of stairs.

Plenty to see,inside and out.

Open Monumentendagen in the Netherlands are part of a Europe-wide program in many European countries.

All at about the same time, London being off-set by a week usually from the rest of the UK. Called Open House in the UK, something different but similar in Oxford and Cambridge.

It is Days of Patrimony in France, etc.

Please note though that the Grote Kerk or St. Bavokerk on the Grote Markt is not a cathedral... it was until the reformation when it became a protestant church. The Roman Catholic St. Bravo cathedral is a little bit out of the city centre (https://koepelkathedraal.nl) also with the ability to climb the towers and listen to the organs. It is an architectural masterpiece in its own right.

Thaks to everyone for all your answers.

Sometimes things are decided for me like lots of stairs is out. And not in the city center might also make it out since I do not have. a lot of time and want to remain in the city center.

Even time restraints make decisions for me.

But I really like what I have been seeing and hearing about Haarlem.

Still there are other excursions for Ijmulden and I will be asking about those soon.

Apologies, I seem to have created confusion…

Nigel is referring to the now Protestant Bavo on the Grote Markt which is close to where you will be dropped off. The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St Bavo is a little bit out of the city center.

The Bavo Nigel is mentioning got the ancient organ.

I love museums. I love parks. I love sitting and people watching.

The Frans Hals Museum is definitely worth visiting.

The main town square is nice to have a coffee or drink and people watch.

Thank you for your contributions Barney __ NL

Marco I think that I am going to like Haarlem