Lucky for us this museum was also opened on Monday. There's lot to see here. It's the first and…read moreoldest museum in the Netherlands. It's a museum of scientific data, manuscripts, fossils, minerals as well the home that the Museum was named after. We just meandered on our own there wasn't an official tour guide but there was lots to see. The museum is a homage to Pieter Teyler van der Hulst, who was a wealthy cloth merchant and banker of Scottish descent, who bequeathed his fortune for the advancement of religion, art, and science. It was the center for enlightenment study and education.

Very interesting and a multitude of displays, vintage instruments, paintings, coinage/medallions…read moreand many, many fossils and minerals. One could spend a whole day perusing the various collections.. Audio assist personalized speakers available in multi languages. Also has a nice, quiet inner courtyard with a small lunch menu available, very tasty sandwiches and more..

A must to visit!! Tickets are VERY HARD and limited!!! So - order months in advance or they will be…read moresold out!!!! Amazing story of faith!!

"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This…read moreI declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him." Psalms 91:1-2 Corrie ten Boom and her family believed that God was their refuge and their faith propelled them to shield those facing Nazi persecution during World War II. They risked their lives to hide Jews, students refusing to cooperate with their oppressors, and members of the Dutch underground resistance movement. It is estimated that 200-300 people sought refuge under their roof. As described in Corrie's book "The Hiding Place", the ten Boom family built a false wall in her bedroom that created an approximately 3 by 8 foot secret room where those being hunted could hide during a Gestapo raid. On February 28, 1944, four Jews and two members of the Resistance hid there for two and half days without food or water. All of them avoided detection, but six members of Corrie's family were arrested and sent to prison. Although Corrie was sentenced to the Ravensbruck concentration camp, she was inexplicably released nearly a year later. Following the end of the war, Corrie visited 64 countries, over the course of 32 years, spreading the message of God's love and proclaiming that Jesus Christ is victorious over all and everything, even the misery of a concentration camp. Reservations are required, admission is free, no photography inside the home is permitted, and navigating a narrow series of stairs is required. Part presentation of the ten Boom home and part presentation of the Gospel message, the orientation takes place in the living room that hosted a Bible Study for 100 years until the family was arrested in 1944. During our visit an interesting group dynamic emerged. Near the end of the tour someone felt inspired to publicly tell a German tour member that she was accepted and that the group did not view her as being a Nazi. It was a disarming extension of grace that seemed in total concert with the message that Corrie exemplified. And that's...Henry's Take. #corrietenboom #grace #faith #refuge

There's a nice livery trendy food court here surrounded by some ok design shops. It's a nice place…read moreto go for a wide choice of food but seems packed a lot. The asparagus fish I had and few pieces of dim sum were all well made.

This museum happened to be free the other day so I ventured in to check it out. I was not…read moreimpressed but I am also not much of a modern art fan either. I thought the place was rather small with not many exhibits. A lot of things would take up entire rooms all by themselves. I usually like to browse around in museums but I walked through the whole thing in about 10 minutes. I even walked around a bit extra because I thought to myself, that can't be all, well it was. I'm really glad I did not pay for this. But maybe if you are a love of modern art like the other review for this place then maybe it is something you would like.

This was a really cool museum, i loved it here! I recommend going here if you like Frans Halses art!read more

I purchased a combo ticket together with the Teylers Museum for €17.50 I don't think that this…read moremuseum is a must-see destination in and of itself, but it made a great addition to a day trip to Haarlem! Frans Hals wasn't initially on my radar, but I fell in love with some of his paintings during my visit to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. His lively brushwork and sense of humor definitely catch the eye! However, be warned that majority of this collection isn't actually Frans Hals: unlike the Van Gogh Museum, which is probably 80-90% Van Gogh, here there's one main room with about 12-15 of his major works, and the rest of the collection is from other Dutch contemporaries. Don't get me wrong, the rest of the museum is still entertaining. The galleries are beautiful, with a nice combination of sculpture, decorative arts, and paintings. And there are convenient lockers for storing your belongings while you browse! It's a cool experience to view some of Frans Hals' classic pieces in the town where he lived and worked. But since this is a smaller museum with a narrow focus, I wouldn't dedicate more than an hour or two to your visit.

Interesting museum to learn about the history of the windmills and you get to go to the top outer…read morepart of the windmill at the end. For some reason, I thought there would be more windmills in the area but this is the only one. Tour guide is a volunteer of the museum, so you can tell they are very passionate. You walk through the windmill with the guide and there's some displays of information at each point as well as the guide explaining it to you. Not a whole lot of seating in each part so be prepared to stay standing. The whole tour took about an hour and the best part was seeing workers at the time of the windmill.

I had a great time visiting this place. They do speak English and a little bit of Spanish in case…read moreyou had any questions. There's a lot of history in this location as well as various picture opportunities

On our trip to The Netherlands, we took a train to Haarlem to visit the Museum van de Geest- museum…read moreof the mind. I was a psychology minor in undergrad and so was my friend, so we were both excited to visit. This museum was super close to the train station as well. If you aren't familiar with mental health disorders, this might be a good museum for you, as the majority of the exhibits have people sharing stories about their lives and mental health struggles. Some of those stories are also shared through art at the end of the tour. I did enjoy reading the quotes and took pictures of some to look at on days when I struggle. I wish this museum had been more interactive and easier to navigate. I found myself needing breaks due to the content itself and the vast amount of exhibits, but the museum doesn't have many benches, chairs, or places to sit. The large room toward the end has a lot of exhibits on mental healthcare history, and it was my favorite area, but it was a little busy and overwhelming, especially at the end of the tour. Like Nick said, I wouldn't make a trip to Haarlem just for this museum, but if you have the time it is convenient and a good place to visit.

I attended a wonderful wedding ceremony here, it was just around the corner from Haarlem station…read more The lovely couple drifted along the channel in a small romantic open boat, then exchanged their vows under the tree. The location is a complete winner for a wedding ceremony or private gathering. The staff and food was on point. At some point in the future, I hope to explore more of the environment. I look forward to returning back to explore the rest of the charming landscape. Het Dolhuys also is attached to a museum near the cafe. In the past it was once a church and hospital, but now has been converted into a museum, cafe and park for the public to visit.

Spawn A and I bought these skull bracelets from The Capuchin Crypt Museum shop. They are simple and…read morethey were inexpensive but we love them. He wears his daily (I can't due to medical issues) and the elastic has started to shred. He asked if I'd see about getting it restrung. I went to three different jewelers who all declared that they did repairs and restringing when asked. Each of them changed that story as soon as they saw that I wasn't asking to have pearls restrung. A couple of them acted as if I was asking for them to string turds together. And every single one referred to Ma Perle with arrogant disdain. One of them had the audacity to call them "not a real jeweler". When I walked in the door of Ma Perle, I was greeted by two ladies who were warm and inviting. They explained the material used to restrung and that it would need to be replaced again. I was told that the beads could be strung onto a metal chain if Spawn A would like to come in to be measured at a later date. Ma Perle happily explained the cost and offered to have it ready the next day. I got the sense that they'd be able to rush should I need it faster. The offerings in the small shop appeared to be, in fact, jewelry of impeccable quality. I picked up the bracelet the next day. They were just as friendly and welcoming as the day before. The cost was more than reasonable and the turn around was fantastic. Ma Perle treated me and my "trinket" with respect and dignity and has solidified us as repeat customers.

This Markt is reliably suffused with quality goods. Looking for fresh produce? Got it! Need cheese?…read moreThere are so many options! After fresh bread? There are at least two bakery stalls. Let's not even get into the snacks and sweets or the textiles and housewares. There's a butcher and a fishmonger. You can do all of your shopping and never set foot in a corporate store. It's a bit crowded and the pedestrian traffic isn't well organized for those of us using canes or walkers so be prepared for a some bumpy terrain.

I bought a beautiful laundry baskets at Haarlem Saturday Grote Markt. I was so happy to finally…read morecome across some quality baskets that will last a long time. You can easily find them a few steps away from the lovely Texel wool and cotton sheets market stall. They are located on the very end before you walk into the market. You will see some beautiful color mats, baskets and bags for a very good price. No where have I seen these types of quality baskets in the shops.