Aside from all the interesting things to do in Haarlem, the city is famous for its Flower Parade. The flowers are also known as “Bloemencorso”. It is a festive parade that is full of flowers and they will parade all over the city.

Usually, there will be cars or even boats parading while being covered in decorative flowers. It shows the most creativity of people and it will be spectacular to watch. Plus, the flowers are so colorful, who can’t possibly take their eyes off something so beautiful, right?

The Bloemencorso in Haarlem is usually held around April every year, following the blooming season. If you plan to visit Haarlem, maybe you can fix your visiting date where you can also see the famous Haarlem flower parade.

Visiting the flower parade isn't the only thing to do in Haarlem. Although Haarlem is a small city, it boasts a rich history and culture. Regardless of whether you visit in April, your stay in Haarlem is sure to be a delightful memory.

The first thing to do in Haarlem is to explore the museums and art galleries. Some of the best ones in the Netherlands are located here. You should visit the Teylers Museum, which houses a large collection of paintings, as well as fossils and minerals from ancient times. Similarly, the Frans Hals Museum is a must-visit. It serves as a grand gallery for portrait paintings by Frans Hals.

Next, while in Haarlem, be sure to visit its famous windmills and delve into their history. One notable windmill is Molen de Adriaan, situated near the city center. The view is quite breathtaking, with the windmill set against the backdrop of the Spaarne River.

Haarlem is a popular city for many reasons, one of which includes its extensive clothing shopping scene. Rather than highlighting individual stores, the entire street in Haarlem is dedicated to clothing shops.

Indeed, Haarlem is home to the Gouden Straatjes, considered the best shopping destination in the Netherlands. "Gouden Straatjes" translates to "the street of gold." It offers not only chic fashion but also stunning architecture that provides a rich sense of history.

Whether you're strolling or biking, you'll find countless collections of clothing, from branded to local items. The prices vary, but wouldn't it be a waste to visit Haarlem and not bring home a piece of clothing?

Like other cities in the Netherlands, Haarlem has some comfort foods that you need to try, like haring, poffertjes, stroopwafels, and cheese. Also, Haarlem usually hosts several culinary events that are held at a different time each year. If you’re interested, you should check out their nearest schedule.

The first culinary event of Haarlem, and the most well-known, is Haarlem Culinair, usually located in the city center. Local restaurants will participate and they will make a stall to cook and sell their signature dishes.

The other culinary event in Haarlem is the ProefPark Haarlem, usually taking place in one of Haarlem's beautiful parks. So, it won’t be all about food and drink, but you can also taste them while enjoying the refreshing atmosphere of the park!

Haarlem to Amsterdam is not far. The distance between them is approximately around 12 miles (20 kilometers). They are connected by several forms of public transportation, including trains and buses. The train service in Haarlem is great and they will depart frequently from Haarlem to Amsterdam. The trip will be around 15 to 20 minutes.

The journey may take as long as driving, possibly longer due to varying traffic conditions. However, one surprising fact is that you can cycle from Haarlem to Amsterdam. Indeed, the short distance between these cities makes it feasible to enjoy a scenic bike ride directly to Amsterdam.