Archaeological research shows that there was already habitation in the surroundings of the Spaarne 3600 years before our era. The city of Haarlem originated as a spiritual settlement on a beach ridge, over which a country road ran that connected the north of Holland with the south.
Learn the history of Haarlem in six minutes. You can do that with a bird's-eye view of Haarlem. See how the imposing Grote or St. Bavo Church was built, be transported to the glory days of Haarlem in the Golden Age and marvel at the development that residents of this monumental city have gone through over the centuries. This animated film can be viewed for free at visitor center Anno Haarlem. Feel free to walk in and learn about the rich history of Haarlem.Â
There are many stories to tell about Haarlem, in all shapes and sizes. Stories from days gone by and stories of today. About artists and pioneers. About adversity and progress.
Anno Haarlem is a unique visitor center located in the City Hall on the Grote Markt. Here you will discover everything about the city's history. The animated film Haarlem in a bird's eye view takes you through the history of Haarlem. Learn about the city's history in an interactive way. The volunteers at Anno Haarlem are happy to answer your questions and are happy to tell you more about the city.Â
From the earliest habitation on the coast to the inner city cesspools and the origins of the medieval city, everything is covered.
In addition to the permanent display of finds excavated in Haarlem, every six months there is an exhibition on a current theme. There is also attention for the archaeologist's profession and how an excavation is done. For children there are many fun activities, such as excavating themselves, examining remains from a cesspool, treasure hunts and computer games. Become your own archaeologist for a day and earn a diploma. Admission is free!
From 1318 to 1625, St. John's Church was owned by the Order of St. John, a European order created in 1099 during the First Crusade. In 1113, Pope Paschalis II recognized the order. Twenty-three years later, in 1136, the order also became a military order, charged with securing and guarding the route to Jerusalem, and in 1291, when all the Crusaders were expelled from the Holy Land, the order settled first on Rhodes, and later in 1530, permanently on Malta. Since the order was basically a military order, all terms are also military in nature. The monastery that settled in Haarlem was therefore called the Commandery, and was under the administration of the Balije in Utrecht. The commandery continued to exist until 1625, the year in which the last commander Andries van Souwen died. The monastery property then passed into city hands. Since 1936, the Janskerk has housed the North Holland Archives.
Verwey Museum Haarlem has been the new name of Museum Haarlem since September 2022. This name change is related to the intensive collaboration with the Kees Verwey Foundation. Not only will the museum continue to pay attention to this Haarlem artist, who lived from 1900 to 1995 and whose work was greatly beloved, the museum will also expand and optimize its focus on contemporary art in all its facets. In addition, there are regularly changing exhibitions on typical Haarlem subjects and local or regional artists
The former name of Haarlem was Haarloheim, a residence on a higher sandy plateau in the forest. Haarlem only "really" became a city in 1245 with the receipt of city rights from Count William II of Holland.
Archaeological research shows that already 1500 years before our era people lived in the vicinity of the Spaarne. From a settlement of ghosts on a beach, 'Haralem' grew into the seat of the Counts of Holland. Because of its favorable location on the Spaarne river the city developed rapidly.
The name Haarlem is possibly a corruption of the word 'Haarloheim', which means 'residence (heim) situated on high sandy ground (haar) in the forest (lo)'. However, it is uncertain whether this is the true origin of the name.
Peter Stuyvesant founded 'New Haarlem' on the east coast of the US in 1658. In 1664, the English took over the colony and named the place 'Harlem'. Today, Harlem is part of the city of New York to the north of Manhattan.
Residents of the city of Haarlem are sometimes jokingly called "mosquitoes. It is not exactly clear where this comes from, however "mosquito" was used as a swear word in the 14th and 15th centuries. It may have originated from the fact that there used to be many mosquitoes in Haarlem. Other explanations include the "mosquito sifting" of the people of Haarlem and a legend about a witch who would turn the inhabitants of the city into mosquitoes if they did not listen.
Discover Haarlem's rich history and its many monumental buildings and courtyards. From medieval streets to wonderful museums such as the Frans Hals Museum and the Teylers Museum, this city offers a wealth of cultural heritage. Come and enjoy the beauty of this historic city!
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