The 15 Best Things to Do in Haarlem

1.Sightseeing Canal Cruise through the City Center

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 762 reviews · 50 min · from $19Our pick

Cruise Haarlem’s old center for 50 minutes with a Dutch, English, or German-speaking skipper and multilingual audio guide. You’ll pass Teylers Museum, the Spaarne, windmill De Adriaan, Jopenkerk, and the Frans Hals Museum from the water. Boats are semi-open or covered and heated, though motor noise can make commentary hard to hear.

“This is a great trip and very informative. I will just add one of the bridges yu pass under apparently a couple of times of the year is covered with thousands of spiders! which fall onto trippers heads!! if you have a phobia please check before you book! if its that time of year.”

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2.Sightseeing Boat Tour with Snacks and Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 398 reviews · 1h 15m · from $34

See Haarlem from a covered antique sloop, with guide Mo sharing local stories as you pass Teylers Museum, Molen de Adriaan, Jopenkerk, and St. Bavo. Your €34 includes chilled drinks, cheese, snacks, cushioned seats, and background music. The boat is intimate, but boarding requires a fairly large step.

“This tour was wonderful. Very informative and a beautiful view of Haarlem from the water. Mo was an excellent host providing snacks and beverages as well as sharing his own personal history and experiences. If you are in Amsterdam it is only a 20 minute train ride away !”

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3.Guided Highlights Canal Cruise on Open Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 363 reviews · 50 min · from $20

Join guides such as Frederike, Peter, Mees, or Maurits for a 50-minute open-boat cruise from Windmill De Adriaan. You’ll glide along the Spaarne River and Haarlem’s canals in a quiet electric sloop while hearing stories in English or Dutch. Pillows, onboard toilets, and drinks for purchase make this a relaxed way to see the city.

“Great tour in an amazing city, we enjoyed the peaceful canal of the beautiful Haarlem. Learned a bit of its history and culture. Frederiaue and Jasper are excellent tour guides, we had a great time!”

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4.50 minutes Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 272 reviews · 50 minutes (approx.) · from $22

Cruise Haarlem’s canals for about 50 minutes with a skipper, guide, and audio commentary in English. You’ll pass Teylers Museum, De Adriaan windmill, Haarlem Central Station, Jopen Church, and the Frans Hals Museum. The boat holds up to 40 people and returns to Spaarne 11A.

“The views and relaxing. The boat was nice and captain too. Would do it again. Was happy until had to keep adding word to this section before I could give a 4 star rating almost didn’t bother because of it.”

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5.Haarlem Open-Boat Canal Cruise with Live Guide (Electric Boat)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 233 reviews · 50 to 55 minutes (approx.) · from $22Top rated

Spend about 50 minutes cruising Haarlem’s old canals and the Spaarne River in a quiet electric boat. Your captain handles the steering while an English-speaking guide shares local history, building stories, and practical tips. The open design gives you clear views, cushioned seating keeps the ride comfortable, and a toilet is available on board.

“Warden is the best! We learned so much and saw so many cool 😎 things around d Haarlem. This tour is a must for all!!”

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6.Windmill ‘De Adriaan’ Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 197 reviews · 1 hour · from $9Best value

Spend an hour inside Haarlem’s 250-year-old De Adriaan windmill with an English or Dutch guide. You’ll study working models, see the grinding stones and flour floor, then step onto the 12-meter gallery for views over the Spaarne. Guides such as Fred, Jan, and Michiel bring the machinery to life, but steep stairs require care.

“The tour and the guide were excellent. She explained step by step to us and answered our questions.”

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7.Dutch Windmill & Spaarne River Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 152 reviews · from $20

Cruise the Spaarne River for 1.5 hours with a skipper and audio guide, passing Teylers Museum, De Adriaan, the Unicorn windmill, and Amsterdamse Poort. You’ll see Haarlem from the water, with Dutch, English, German, French, and Spanish audio options. Boats are covered and heated or semi-open, and snacks and drinks are available to buy.

“the friendly boat's captain, Al had to move us from our boat because the engine was overheating. he kindly arranged for another boat to take the group of us onto the windmill. great service😃”

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8.Frans Hals Museum Entrance Ticket with Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 79 reviews · 1 day · from $21

Spend one day exploring two Frans Hals Museum locations in Haarlem’s historic center. See six Civic Guard paintings by Frans Hals, old masters, Mondriaan, contemporary art, and the Maarten van Heemskerck exhibition. Your ticket includes an audio guide in Dutch, English, French, or German, with both museums only a seven-minute walk apart.

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9.Private Haarlem Canal Cruise with Captain (Electric Boat)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)

You’ll spend about 90 minutes on Haarlem’s canals in a private electric boat with a captain. Expect a quiet ride, views of Molen De Adriaan, local history, and practical tips on restaurants and sights. Captains including Allard, Joost, Boris, Floris, and Willem have guided groups, and some bookings have included meals or drinks by arrangement.

“We had a wonderful time during our boat tour through Haarlem! Our captain was very friendly and made the whole experience even more enjoyable. He made sure everyone was comfortable and had a great sense of humor. The ride was smooth, relaxing, and offered beautiful views. Highly recommended, thank you for a memorable trip!”

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10.De Adriaan Windmill Tour + Open Canal Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 66 reviews · 1h 40m · from $28

Start at Windmill De Adriaan, where an English-speaking guide leads a 30-minute visit before you climb to the balcony for wide views over Haarlem. Then board a cushioned, 100% electric sloop for about 50 minutes along canals and the Spaarne. The captain shares local stories, and you return to the same central spot.

“interessant en leuke mensen. voor koude dagen, als gisteren, adviseer ik om dekens te verstrekke n”

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11.Self-Drive Private Electric Boat Rental

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 59 reviews · 2 hours

You captain a private electric boat from Industrieweg 7 through Haarlem’s canals and nearby open water. A local host gives a safety briefing, steering tips, and a map with route ideas. The boat has cushions, a steering wheel, and room for up to 12 people. Bring your own food and drinks for a relaxed two-hour outing.

“Hat super viel Spaß gemacht und das lenken hat man nach paar Minuten raus . Es gibt für das Boot Parkplätze , wo man es abstellen kann um sich einen Kaffee oä zu holen .”

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12.The rise of Haarlem: Culture, History, Art and Architecture Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 59 reviews · from $55

Walk Haarlem’s cobbled center with guide James, covering the Grote Markt, St. Bavo, Teylers Museum, Molen Adriaan, hofjes, Dutch architecture, Golden Age art, and wartime history. The 2.5-hour tour covers about 4 km in a group of no more than six. Sunday and after-5pm tours cannot enter the hofjes.

“Small group tour ended up being a private tour and it was excellent. We’ve done several tours on our European tour this year and this one was definitely the best. Our guide was very detailed, knowledgeable and articulate. Highly recommend.”

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13.City Highlights Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 32 reviews · 2 hours · from $25

Join a live English-speaking guide for a two-hour private or shared walk through Haarlem. See Grote Markt, Sint Bavo Kerk, the Spaarne, Amsterdamse Poort, hofjes, Teylers Museum, and De Adriaan. Guide Manuel has led an engaging version of this route, which mixes major sights with local stories and practical tips.

“It was nice experience. The guide was knowledgeable and willing to give more information about the city. I liked the city even more after the tour. The only thing was the weather - it was cold and windy”

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14.Haarlem Highlights Bike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 26 reviews · 2 hours · from $35

Meet your English or Dutch guide at Bike Tours Haarlem near the station and spend two hours cycling through Haarlem’s old center. You’ll see churches, canals, a former city gate, windmills, and less familiar streets. Guide Marino has earned warm praise for his interesting explanations. Bikes and a limited group size are included.

“Erg leuke interessante tour gehad. Je komt dan toch op plaatsen waar je zelf nooit zal komen. Erg leuke uitleg gehad van Marino onze gids.”

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15.Haarlem Old Town Private Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $265

Walk Haarlem with a private English-speaking guide such as Sasha, Hana, or Anastasia. You’ll connect the city’s railway station, medieval almshouses, wartime hiding places, Frans Hals, Grote Markt, and Jopenkerk brewery. The route is flexible, but museum entry, food, and beer are not included.

“The tour by Sasha was outstanding. He was very knowledgeable on the history of the area and of the Netherlands. He made the three hour tour very interesting & fun. Definitely would book again with him.”

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