A medieval market square framed by the Grote Kerk, the old town hall and the Vleeshal, with terraces on every side.
Haarlem is fifteen minutes from Amsterdam by train and this square is why people who make that trip come back: the same seventeenth-century architecture, a quarter of the crowd, and cafés that are still mostly serving locals. Markets fill it twice a week and terraces fill it the rest of the time. There is nothing to buy a ticket for, which makes it the cheapest hour in the Randstad and one of the better ones.
Highlights
- Free and always open
- Fifteen minutes from Amsterdam by train
- Terraces on all four sides
Insider tips
- →The square works best mid-morning, before the terraces fill and after the delivery vans leave.
- →Everything else in this city is within ten minutes of it, so start here.
FAQ
Do I need to book Grote Markt ahead?
Is this a good first-time visitor choice?
Where you'll find it
Haarlem, Netherlands
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