Haarlem was often the first. Examples? The first museum, the first newspaper, the first liberation festival. But more about this another time. Now we want to talk about the first railroad. It was festively opened on September 20, 1839. The locomotives "De Arend" and "De Snelheid" pulled nine passenger cars along the track at 38 kilometers per hour. An enormous speed for those days. And then they drove in the right direction, namely from Amsterdam to Haarlem (and not the other way around). You understand that the arrival was a festive event. And arriving at Haarlem station still is. Because anyone who has ever been to this 1908 station knows that it is an impressive building, a building with allure, one of the most beautiful stations in the Netherlands. In terms of location, too, it is a winner. For it is within walking distance of the Golden Streets, right in the heart of the city. This atmospheric shopping area offers everything but an average selection. From boutiques to concept stores and from vintage stores to artisan specialty stores and exclusive design. The Golden Streets are so special that we created a special booklet about them. With an overview of the stores and with beautiful stories hidden in the monumental buildings where they are located.