Cities near Zandvoort
Haarlem and Amsterdam
Haarlem "the best shopping place from Holland".
Welcome to Haarlem! Even from far away, the Gothic St. Bavo church dominates the city's skyline. You should come and visit Haarlem and take a stroll through the historic streets. Admire the picturesque facades, the monuments and the museums. Haarlem is just 15 minutes drive from Zandvoort by car or train.
Visiting Haarlem
In Haarlems historic city centre all places of interest are within walking distance. Enjoy the city by strolling or taking a break in one of the many cosy cafes. If you are looking for food, the choice is virtually unlimited. Haarlem even has a culinary walking route for the real gourmets! For going out at night what do think about the Schouwburg, the Toneelschuur, Concertgebouw, a cinema, café or club.
You are bound to notice something else as well, when walking through Haarlem's city centre: the great variety of shops. It should not surprise you that Haarlem has been officially designated as best shopping city in Holland. The city owes this title, among other things, to the wide range of specialised stores and exclusive shops. And - not to be overlooked - the enjoyable market, every Monday and Saturday, at the Grote Markt. The city centre is virtually car-free. You can park your car conveniently in one of the covered car parks in the centre. The Grote Markt is just a ten minute walk from the railway station.
Haarlem welcomes you with beautiful flower arrangements on street corners, colourful parks and squares. In early spring the bulb fields stretching out for miles to the south-west of the city show off their unique colourful splendour.
Do you like art and culture? In 1784 Holland's first museum, the Teylers Museum, opened its doors on the banks of the Spaarne. See and admire the architecture of the building and be impressed by its unique, multifaceted collection. You should certainly visit the Frans Hals Museum, with its intimate, secluded garden. Pause to contemplate the impressive "Schutterstukken" (paintings of the city's armed guards of honour) by the haarlem master painter Frans Hals.
Museums
Frans Hals Museum: www.franshalsmuseum.nl
Historisch Museum: www.historischmuseumhaarlem.nl
Teylers www.teylersmuseum.nl
Haarlem History
City of a thousand monuments
In the old days the Grote Markt was the designated tournament ground for the Counts of Holland. And this beautiful square still constitutes Haarlem its throbbing heart. Look around you, at the mediaeval town hall complex, the St Bavo cathedral, the Fish Hall, the Hoofdwacht. Can you imagine a nicer starting-point for a tour of discovery through Haarlem? Don't hesitate, once you are en route, to ask Haarlemmers what you should not be missing out on. They will proudly point you to several of the city's 1000 listed monuments. And, while wandering through Haarlem in this way, you may suddenly find yourself in one of its 20 mediaeval almshouses. All around you is silence: you are transported back to the year 1395
More information?
Tourist Board Haarlem, Verwulft 11 2011 GJ Haarlem.
Amsterdam
Welcome to Amsterdam! Amsterdam with a population of 751.000 inhabitants is one of the greatest small cities in the world. From its canals to world-famous museums and historical sights, Amsterdam is one of the most romantic and beautiful cities in Europe.
Amsterdam is also a city of tolerance and diversity. It has all the advantages of a big city: culture, nightlife, international restaurants, good transport - but is quiet, and largely thanks to its canals, has a little road traffic, but beware of bicycles. In Amsterdam your destination is never far away but take a bike for a most authentic experience.
Museums are the main tourist attraction in Amsterdam. Everyone knows the Rijksmuseum(Large museum containing paintings by some of the Netherlands' great 17th century painters such as Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Hals. The Nightwatch by Rembrandt is their prize piece. Contains many artefacts as well as paintings), Van Gogh Museum(Surprisingly spacious, dedicated to Van Gogh and his contemporaries) and the Stedelijk Museum, but there is much more. Amsterdam has over fifty museums which attract millions of visitors each year.
Museums
Rijksmuseum: www.rijksmuseum.nl
Stedelijk: www.stedelijkindestad.nl
Van Gogh museum: www.vangoghmuseum.nl
Rembrandt's House: www.rembrandthuis.nl
Amsterdam Historisch Museum: www.ahm.nl
Anna Frank Huis: Anne Frank Huis
Amsterdam Histrory
Amsterdam was founded as a small fishing village in an improbable position on marsh at the mouth of the Amstel River. The waters around the village were controlled by a system of dykes and polders, and the young township expanded prodigiously to become the chief trading city of northern Europe, and ultimately, in the 17th century, the centre of a massive empire stretching across the world.
The construction of the canals and gabled houses in the 16th and 17th centuries - the hallmark Amsterdam - coincided with a period of fine domestic architecture. The glorious result is a city centre of unusually consistent visual beauty. By the 18th century, Amsterdam was a major financial centre, but internal unrest and restrictions imposed under Napoleonic rule led to a decline in her fortunes.
Amsterdam quietly slipped into a period of obscurity, and industrialization came late. In the 20th century, however, Amsterdam entered the European mainstream again. Its international airport, expanded in 1993, provides access for the world, and tourists pour in to see the stunning art museums and sample the delights of a modern, vibrant city.
More information?
Tourist Board Amsterdam, De Ruyterkade 5 7 1013 AA Amsterdam.
Telephone 031(0)205305090
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