Last year, the Dutch Heritage Days were lovely. The weather was SO good, I saw so many beautiful buildings I had never ever seen before, there were a lot of extra activities (I learned a LOT), plus, we got free coffee, tea, cake and beer that day. As a Dutchman I can always appreciate everything that is free. Let's hope this year will be just as gezellig as last year.
Today, it's all about Haarlem!
Today, it's all about Haarlem!
1. HOFJE VAN BAKENES
Haarlem is a great city for a 'hofjes' tour. Hofjes are courtyards that used to provide housing for poor families, the elderly, and mostly single or widowed (poor) women. Hofjes in Haarlem were usually commissioned by wealthy families, maybe not so much out of generosity, maybe more because such a hofje would be named after them. There a plenty of hofjes left in Haarlem, but this hofje was built in 1395, and is therefore the oldest hofje in the Netherlands.
Address: Wijde Appelaarsteeg 11k
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10:00 - 17:00 and Sunday 15 September 12:00 - 17:00
How to get there: It's an 11 minute walk from Haarlem station.
Address: Wijde Appelaarsteeg 11k
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10:00 - 17:00 and Sunday 15 September 12:00 - 17:00
How to get there: It's an 11 minute walk from Haarlem station.
2. HUIS BARNAART
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Amsterdam's city architect and chamberlain to Napoleon Bonaparte commissioned this neoclassical manor in the beginning of the 19th century. The golden room is interesting to see - although I do find all that gold and all that gold coloured silk on the walls a bit tacky, but I guess it's fitting for that day and age. ;)
Address: Nieuwe Gracht 7
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10:00 - 17:00
How to get there: It's a 6 minute walk from Haarlem station.
Address: Nieuwe Gracht 7
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10:00 - 17:00
How to get there: It's a 6 minute walk from Haarlem station.
3. KATHEDRALE BASILIEK ST.-BAVO (NIEUWE BAVO)
I think this is one of the most impressive cathedrals we have in the Netherlands. It was designed by Jos Cuypers (son of also famous architect Pierre Cuypers) with help from his father and architect Jan Stuyt. Up until this point in the 20th Century, churches usually were built in neogothical style, but the diocese decided they wanted something new, something more eclectic. So Cuypers incorporated neoroman elements, as well as Spanish-Islamic elements, and you can even find some art nouveau in the form of the copper dome.
Address: Leidsevaart 146
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10:00 - 17:00 and Sunday 15 September 13:00 - 17:00 uur
How to get there: From Haarlem station: Take bus 50 to Leiden, Bus 176 to Amsterdam Zuid and get off at Stadsschouwburg. From here it's a 5 minute walk.
Address: Leidsevaart 146
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10:00 - 17:00 and Sunday 15 September 13:00 - 17:00 uur
How to get there: From Haarlem station: Take bus 50 to Leiden, Bus 176 to Amsterdam Zuid and get off at Stadsschouwburg. From here it's a 5 minute walk.
4. REGENTENKAMERS DE JANSZALEN
Personally I like to visit these kind of 'style rooms', that have beautiful baroque and rococo interiors, because they are so different than what we're used to today. I find them elegant and stately and I love the swirly (is that a word?) decorations. The Janszaal here from 1750 has been recently renovated, as were the wallpaper paintings by Haarlem painter Jan Augustini.
Address: Jansstraat 36
Opening Hours: Sunday 15 September 12:00 - 17:00 uur
How to get there: It's a 6 minute walk from Haarlem station.
Address: Jansstraat 36
Opening Hours: Sunday 15 September 12:00 - 17:00 uur
How to get there: It's a 6 minute walk from Haarlem station.
5. PAVILJOEN WELGELEGEN
This neoclassical building is in the top 100 of our National Heritage list, and no wonder, it's such an elegant and pretty villa. It was commissioned in 1885 by banker Henry Hope, who used the place to display his large painting collection. When Napoleon Bonaparte lived in the Netherlands, he bought the place, and called the place his Pavillion. We've called it the 'Welgelegen pavillion' ever since. The interior is richly decorated, and definitely worth a visit I think. Especially considering it's only open to visitors during Open Monumentweekend.
Address: Dreef 3
Opening hours: Saturday 14 September 10:00 - 17:00 and Sunday 15 September 12:00 - 17:00
How to get there: From Haarlem station: Take bus 177 to Schiphol, bus 176 to Amsterdam Zuid and get off at Tempeliersstraat. From here it's a 5 minute walk. Or, alternatively, take bus 140 to Uithoorn and get off at Dreef. From here it's a 10 minute walk.
Address: Dreef 3
Opening hours: Saturday 14 September 10:00 - 17:00 and Sunday 15 September 12:00 - 17:00
How to get there: From Haarlem station: Take bus 177 to Schiphol, bus 176 to Amsterdam Zuid and get off at Tempeliersstraat. From here it's a 5 minute walk. Or, alternatively, take bus 140 to Uithoorn and get off at Dreef. From here it's a 10 minute walk.
6. HOOFDWACHT
Up until 1350 De Hoofdwacht (head watch?) was the city hallof Haarlem, and today it's one of the oldest buildings in Haarlem. After 1350, this building was used as a home, as a shop, as a beer cellar and it was even a jail for some time. Then it became a sentinel post, where guards were on the lookout. I like that this building has such a rich history and has had multiple uses (if only all modern buildings were this flexible, ;)). I also love the Dutch renaissance style and the cross windows.
Address: Grote Markt 17
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10:00 - 17:00 uur and Sunday 15 September 12:00 - 17:00
How to get there: It's a 9 minute walk from Haarlem station.
Address: Grote Markt 17
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10:00 - 17:00 uur and Sunday 15 September 12:00 - 17:00
How to get there: It's a 9 minute walk from Haarlem station.
7. HAARLEMSCHE VRIJMETSELAARSSTICHTING HVS
So I already wrote about my lack of knowledge of the freemasonry here, but I do find the freemasonry intruiging to say the least. Freemasonry uses a lot of symbols in architecture - small little details that give away that the building belongs to the freemasonry. It's fun to look for these Freemasonic symbols, the stars, suns, the square and compasses. You can easily discover them here on the front façade.
Address: Ripperdastraat 13
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10:00 - 17:00 and Sunday 15 September 12:00 - 17:00.
How to get there: It's a 3 minute walk from Haarlem station.
Address: Ripperdastraat 13
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10:00 - 17:00 and Sunday 15 September 12:00 - 17:00.
How to get there: It's a 3 minute walk from Haarlem station.
And there you have it, Haarlem!
Tomorrow the last in my Open Monumentweekend serie. This one will be about the best heritage sites across the country!
*disclaimer
1st photo borrowed from here, 2nd photo borrowed from here, 3rd photo borrowed from here, 4th photo borrowed fromhere, 5th photo borrowed from here, 6th photo borrowed from here, 7th photo borrowed fromhere.
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