Elswout
The fairytale country estate Elswout is located in Overveen, a village in the municipality of Bloemendaal, west of Haarlem. The estate is part of Zuid-Kennemerland National Park. In the Golden Age, wealthy Amsterdam merchants discovered the edge of the dunes as an ideal place to build a country estate. The estate is the Netherlands' best preserved country estate.
This place is not to be missed this fall. Among photographers and hikers, this is a very popular place and especially in autumn. The estate is filled with monuments in the style of the French Neo-Renaissance. For example, you will find gazebos, stables and carriage houses. The deer, beech trees and mushrooms complete the autumn picture.
Good to know is that there are hiking trails and cycling is not allowed. Elswout is open to the public every day from sunrise to sunset.
The Beaconesser Moat
The Bakenessergracht, one of the most beautiful canals in Haarlem. A stone's throw from the Grote Markt, you will find this characteristic street with many monumental canal houses. The facades of the houses are richly decorated and show the prosperity and craftsmanship of earlier times. The canal runs from the Spaarne to the Nieuwe Gracht. Three bridges connect the west quay with the east quay. Trees decorate the canal side. In the water along the side are boats.
If you stand on the Begijne Bridge and look toward the Spaarne, you will see two buildings with similar stepped gables sticking out. The buildings are called De Olyphant. A brewery was located here until the mid-17th century.
The Haarlemmerhout
It is also called the Wood and, of course, should not be missing from this list. The Haarlemmerhout is the oldest city park in the Netherlands. It consists of two parts. The Kleine Hout is a park where Pavilion Welgelegen (the provincial house of North Holland) is located on. On the other side of the provincial road is the Grote Hout. This is an urban forest. The provincial house a large monumental building that makes for beautiful pictures.
In the Great Wood is city farm the Houthoeve. Here you can find goats, pigs and chickens, among other things. Deer live in a large part of the forest. They provide autumnal atmospheres in the forest. Next to the Houtoeve is a teahouse. This one looks fairy-like in the forest.
On the south side of the Haarlemmerhout is the Hildebrand Monument. Here there is a fountain with a sculpture group. From sunset, the statues are illuminated.
Kenaupark
In the center of Haarlem, near the train station, you will find the Kenaupark. The Kenaupark is a charming city park that photographers love to see through their lens. The park is especially special because of the posh buildings that surround it. The white, stately buildings were built in the 19th century.
Kenau Park is a relatively quiet city park. That can be advantageous if you want to take nice pictures. The park is home to a monument to Hannie Schaft. The bronze statue of the resistance fighter can be part of your fall photo.
The western part of the park is adjacent to the Kinderhuissingel. Along the water is a walking path surrounded by trees. This area is perfect for beautiful photos in the fall.
Sphere
While you are in the Station Neighborhood, be sure not to forget to visit the Bolwerken as well. The Bolwerken is a park and parkland on the north side of the station. Through the park run the Kloppersingel and the Schotersingel. The Kennemer bridge separates the canals. The somewhat hilly surroundings and the water make the location perfect for beautiful autumn photos. From the Rozenhagen Bridge you can see the King's Church. That view provides beautiful images.
At Bolwerken, you come across many monumental buildings. For example, you have Huize Zocher on the Kloppersingel side. On the Schotersingel side are characteristic mansions. From the Noorderbrug, which is surrounded by large trees, you can take beautiful autumn photographs.
Kings Court
When you think of autumn, you think of trees, leaves and mushrooms. The latter you have to look for well if you want to photograph them. Or you go to the Koningshofwhere the mushrooms literally shoot out of the ground. Koningshof estate is part of National Park South-Kennemerland and is located in Overveen, near the aforementioned Elswout.
Regionally, Koningshof is known as the place to find mushrooms. They are there all year round, but most can be admired in autumn. With its rich mushroom flora, Koningshof estate is the ideal location to shoot beautiful autumn images.
Of course, there is more to admire than mushrooms. The estate is relatively large. There is an imposing mansion. The park forest has large beeches and oaks. What makes the Koningshof extra nice are the grazing shetland ponies that are there. Those like to figure in autumn photos.
In the region
Just outside Haarlem, you'll find even more locations not to be missed if you want to take beautiful autumn photos:
Kennemerduinen
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