It's summer and the mercury is rising. The sunny days are nice, but sometimes it can get very hot and cooling down can't hurt. Fortunately, the beaches of Bloemendaal and Zandvoort are just around the corner. This blog gives you more tips to cool off in and around Haarlem during the summer days.

Swimming in the Houtvaart
You prefer to take a dip in the water when your body needs cooling. Haarlem has a large outdoor swimming pool. The Houtvaart is a monumental outdoor pool and is the ideal place where you can cool off. There is a diving board and a shallow pool for little ones. There is also a catering facility.
Picnic
Seeking shade can be nice when the sun is shining brightly. How fun is it to do that during a picnic? Picnicking is the perfect way to get together with friends and enjoy the summer days. Settle down on a rug at one of the many picnic spots in or around Haarlem while enjoying snacks and drinks.


Sailing
Boating is surely one of the most fun things to do in the summer. Don't have a boat? Then you can rent one. On the boat you feel a nice breeze that helps you get through a hot day. Haarlem has beautiful canals that you can navigate. Branch out via the Spaarne to a quiet mooring where you can take a dip, such as the Mooie Nel or the Molenplas. From the boat, you have a completely different view of the city. That's fun to see!
The Bet
Just past Overveen and the Kennemerduinen visitor center you will find dune lake Het Wed. Especially with children, this is a nice place to spend a summer day. It is a sheltered beach with a lake where you can swim. From Haarlem it is not as far as the sea and it is a lot less touristy.


Ice cream from Pierre
An ice cream is one of the tastiest snacks when it is hot. Haarlem has many ice cream parlors. Pierre is a chocolate shop with artisanal ice cream. Most of the ingredients come from Italy. Discover flavors such as pistachio, forest fruit yogurt, summer chocolates, peanut brittle and white clouds.
Suppen
SUP stands for "Stand Up Paddle" and you do it on a SUP board. This is a large surfboard that you can stand on and paddle around on. Supping is a fun activity and is best done when the temperature is high. On the water it's easy to keep out and if you fall in you cool right off! You can rent SUP-boards rent and take lessons. Can you hold your own?
