Max’ personal recommendations for Haarlem

My name is Max and I was born and raised in this country! That’s why I’m happy to show you around in one of the most charming cities in Holland. You can click on the bold text to get to the Google Maps location of the establishment.

All of you good luck in Haarlem!

And don’t forget to write me a review here of course ;)

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Food / Restaurants
Breakfast / Lunch 
Dutch Snacks / Takeaway
Bars
Nightlife
Shopping
Coffeeshops (no coffee, weed!)
Museums
Parks

More about Haarlem

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FOOD / RESTAURANTS

Louisiana Lobster Bar
A personal favorite of mine. Great Cajun and Southern US barbecue dishes and awesome bourbon and cocktails.

Wilma & Albert
This steakhouse is a classic, far beyond the city walls of Haarlem. Beware of peanuts shells on the floor!

Bar & Kitchen Zocher
This amazing restaurant cooks daring dishes with local ingredients all day round. Possible for a small bite as well as a long dinner.

DeDAKKAS
Literally translates to ‘The Roof Glasshouse’, this is  great restaurant with a beautiful setting.

Wallet Pizza
This pizza bar is an excellent location to get a quick bite for lunch, or a whole wood oven pizza to take out. The Avellino-born owner Ivan talks about pizza with a great passion that nears an obsession ;)  All ingredients are imported from Italy and prepared fresh daily. If you are true pizza fan (like me), don’t miss this place before you leave the city.

BREAKFAST / LUNCH

The Yoghurt Barn
This place serves excellent fresh and healthy food that will keep you going the entire morning.

Fons Hof
Classic Dutch cafeteria. They serve classic Dutch snacks like a ‘Broodje Kroket’ (bun with goulash croquette) or ‘Patatje Oorlog’ (french fries with peanut sauce & mayonnaise), but also a steak and salad. They have been doing it with class for around 50 years, my dad even used to work in this place!

De Lachende Javaan
Great Indonesian place. This is a great option for vegetarian or vegan food.

Het Broodjeshuis
The Dutch have made sandwiches into an art. We got a lot of shade thrown at us for having lunch with merely bread. However, if you’re here, you should try a lunch just like the locals!

Freaking Vegan
Located at the Botermarkt, this is a nice central lunch stop for vegans.

DUTCH SNACKS / TAKEAWAY

Tokorico Botermarkt
Go here for Surinamese classics like ‘Broodje Pom’ ‘Bakkeljauw’ or a good portion of fried noodles; ‘Bami’.

Other must-try Dutch delicacies:

– Broodje ‘Gerookte Paling’ (smoked eel)
– Poffertjes (mini-pancakes)
– Likkepot (liverwurst with onion and peppers)
– Berehap (fried meatball in peanut sauce)

BARS

Studio
Large cafe with dance floor. In the weekends there’s often live music here. Conveniently located at Grote Markt.

Cafe Koops
Authentic Dutch brown bar. They serve my favorite pilsener on draught; Hertog Jan.

Jopenkerk
Church turned brewery! This hotspot can’t be missed. Enjoy a great beer well admiring the copper pipes of the brewery curving around you. All beers have a name that’s in some way related to Haarlem.

De Volkslust
Terrace at the waterfront. This trendy bar will you serve you your drinks pretty much IN the canal, where you’ll see Dutch people drifting by in their boats.

NIGHTLIFE

De Patronaat
Haarlem’s pop temple. Do check their schedule on https://patronaat.nl to see when there’s a show that suits your flavor.

De Filmschuur
For international arthouse films.

De Lichtfabriek
Club/event venue, situated in an old factory building. Go here and find out why the Netherlands is famous for its parties in old warehouses.

Cafe Stiels
Live music bar. Usually the program is Rock & Blues orientated. Has a large smoking area from where you can still see the band.

 

SHOPPING

For shopping, the entire city center will pretty much suit you well. The large clothing stores can be found on and around the Grote Houtstraat.

NERD CULTURE SHOPS

The Toyboys
Shop for toys and board games for (big) boys.

The Game Shop
For buying/selling retro games, systems and movies.

Nedgame
Slightly bigger and more modern video game store.

COMIC BOOK SHOPS

Haarlem is known in the Netherlands for being the birthplace of many cartoon artists and characters alike. You might not find any titles you’ve ever heard of before. Jopo de Pojo is a friendly shop, where you browse for the best comics from Holland.

SMARTSHOPS

A smartshop is something typically Dutch. You probably know that some stores sell marijuana in the Netherlands. Smartshops, however, sell all natural drugs BUT cannabis. A good choice in Haarlem is State of Mind. Be careful, fly safely ;)

COFFEESHOPS (no coffee, marijuana!)

Be careful where you buy your herb! Many coffee shops will scam you. Take a tip!

Coffeeshop Regine
This coffeeshop smack dab in the centre of Haarlem is a partner of the world famous Amsterdam Genetics group. This shop is for takeaway only, but has superior products and awesome staff.

MUSEUMS

Teylers Museum

Frans Hals Museum

Corrie Ten Boom Huis

PARKS

Frederikspark
Centrally located, clean and peaceful. Located next to the former palace of Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother. Often the gardens of the palace are open to visitors. On the other side of the palace the park continues as ‘Haarlemmerhous’, which is a lot shadier because of the many trees.

Kenau Park

Parnassia
Resort located in a national park in the sand dunes, right off the coast. Easily accessible by car and bicycle. These are paths leading through the national park. There is also a beach favored by dog owners, since they can run free on this beach.

Video’s