A Spontaneous Day Trip to Haarlem: "More Dutch than Amsterdam!" 🇳🇱✨

#summervacay
I totally embraced my spontaneous side in the Netherlands! The night before heading to Haarlem, it was already 8 PM, and I just decided, "Let's go to Haarlem!" Turns out, it's called "Little Amsterdam" and is supposedly even more Dutch than Amsterdam itself. What a great last-minute choice!

Getting There & Getting Around:

It was super easy to get there, just a 15-minute train ride from Amsterdam city center. Once I arrived, the whole city was perfectly set up for a chill citywalk. I loved just exploring on foot.

My Must-See Highlights:

Teylers Museum 🏛️
This place was fascinating! It's the oldest museum in the Netherlands, and I used my Museum Card for free entry (otherwise it's €16). They had everything from biological fossils and sparkly crystals to old scientific instruments and cool paintings. I even saw a bunch of Dutch kids on guided tours, which was pretty cute.

The St. Bavo Church ⛪
I paid €4 to go inside (there's a souvenir shop too). From the outside, it didn't look like much, but the interior was truly grand and magnificent. It's rumored that Charles V was baptized here, and that ten-meter-tall pipe organ was seriously impressive. When the sunlight streamed through, hitting the rows of benches, it just created this incredibly peaceful and beautiful atmosphere.

Haarlem was such a delightful mix of history, culture, and that charming Dutch vibe. I loved just wandering around!

#haarlem #netherlands #daytrip #dutchtravel #teylersmuseum #stbavochurch #citywalk #travelnetherlands

Post by ChenJunLe | Jun 23, 2025