As I look back on my travel adventures so many experiences bring me joy. And Haarlem is one of them. So many of my travels took place before Instagram and long before this blog space, nonetheless, I’m here to share. My goal is to document my experiences so I can remember where I went and what I enjoyed most. And ultimately recommend favorites to you. However, I mostly want to pique a curiosity and sense of wanderlust in you!
I tend to love to travel to places that are more random and not really where everyone else is going. I also love to travel in off-seasons; when places are less busy and more affordable to travel to. But, I’m one to walk to the beat of my own drum. When I travel I completely embrace the culture of where I’m going and spend a lot of time researching and learning all about it. Not a lot of people can keep up with my travel style. Let me tell you, there is never a dull moment and I make the most of all of it! You never know if you will go back so my thought is to try to fit in all you can without losing your sense of wonder. And energy too, haha.
Moai, no? Nice, no?
Back to my Haarlem travel experience. Talk about charm. I would have never have ended up here had it not been for my amazing Dutch cousins who took me on a girls weekend when I was visiting them in Friesland. They are the best and they sure know how to have fun! This is only one of the adventures during my stay. I’ll be sure to share more about my other Netherlands adventures and favorites. They each deserve their own post, so stay tuned.
“The emotions of the street is something museums can’t buy.” -Sign on a Haarlem Huis (house) in a local streetway
Overview
Unique boutiques on picturesque city streets is what makes up much of Haarlem. Wind around canals, browse the market, and take in all the charm. Unwind on the beach, and have a retreat in a local cafe in any season, yes any season. Haarlem is very much Amsterdam on a smaller scale and with many more local people out and about.
Where to Stay
We stayed in the most darling boutique hostel, hotel, Hello I’m Local. It is a local favorite and is conveniently located. The branding of this accommodation is what charmed me most. One thing I love about other cultures and languages is the way they translate the English language. There is such an innocence and rawness in how they go about it, that just makes my heart smile. How they translated things added to the character of the brand. And on top of that; the vintage style and all of the details added to the uniqueness of the entire experience. There is no place quite like it. And I’ve stayed at a lot of places around the world.
Below is the main entry where you check in, have breakfast, and gather. It’s so warm and inviting, it’s no wonder it’s the main entrance. You walk right into the heart of the hostel hotel. There are tables with old school games on them, cozy chairs, and lounge sofas.
Beyond the entry is another inviting gathering space. It has an outdoor courtyard feel to it with tons of natural lighting and is a great place to socialize and meet local travelers. The decor is very tasteful and is local to the Netherlands culture. You can learn a lot just by looking around. Tulips, dutch tiles, and cookie molds are a few things that stand out.
Even the hallways are charming with Dutch details. Dutch books, wooden shoes, and a famous wooden dutch cookie mold wall give all the feels.
Our room was the, “Hello I’m the Old School room” and it had a theme and a charm all its own.
The decor was all “olden days” school type games, a chalkboard, desk, locker, etc. Every room in the hotel/hostel has a different theme. Some rooms have their own bathroom and others have a community bathroom, more like a hostel experience. We just loved our stay, it was so darling and cozy. It was like our little apartment in the city that we came back to after a day of exploring. It was nice having a room with our own bathroom and loved how everything was labeled…”Hello I’m Dry Hair.”
Experience the Culture
As I mentioned, I love to “get cultured” when I travel. I’m ALL IN to what the locals are doing. Coffee, tea, favorite foods, and dishes, daily routines, trends, etc. I always want to experience it all. My favorite things to check out in other countries is their home decor style, local bistros/restaurants, bookstores, and thrift/antique stores. I want to learn about how they live and what inspires them.
See the Sights
Now that you have a place to stay and an idea of what to experience, it’s time to hit the streets. Getting lost in a foreign country is my favorite! There is noting quite like wonderlusting and wonderloving and literally going where the wind blows you, without a care in the world. Here are some things to do when you visit Haarlem, NL.
Shopping
There is a lot of boutique shopping to do that winds down city streets and canals. So much charm to take in and aimless wandering to do. Pay attention to how locals are dressed from their shoes to how they get around and how they go about everyday life. It’s really interesting and inspiring to get ideas from different surroundings. Even looking at the business names and marketing is fun too. I love to take it all in. Seeing what is popular, even in their grocery stores, is all part of the adventure and experience. For a list of the best shopping, click here.
Some signage that stood out from funny to motivational:
Shop, shop, shop. Flower shops and carts, historic buildings, and happy socks throughout.
Charming, city street scenes and Haarlem city nights.
The Market
The Grote Market is another fun place to go to and experience. A lot of towns throughout the Netherlands have a market square, sometimes multiple, where they have weekly market days. You can find anything from fresh breads, meats, seafood, cheese, flowers, and handmade items. I bought a beautiful wool scarf here. For a list of local Haarlem markets, click here.
The Beach
After exploring the town and visiting all the shops, be sure to check out the beach! Summer, winter, spring, or fall, the beach is always the happiest place to be. I’m really not joking, it is busy in any season. It’s one of the most amazing things I’ve seen and learned in my travels. Well, of course it is. Why haven’t we thought of it here in the midst of our gloomy Michigan winters …where we’re never far from a local beach town?? Try it! If only we could learn this from the Dutch. The beach was full of people walking, flying kites, playing in the sand, eating at the San Blas beach cafe, etc. and it was the start of January. While we were there it was freezing and so windy, yet so pleasant and a perfect way to end a visit to this seaside Netherlands town. Take a look.
Have you been to Haarlem, NL? Tell me what you loved about it! If you are planning a trip, use this website to help plan your trip, click here.
xx
