Haarlem it's about 10 minutes away from Amsterdam Central Station by train. It is a small station…read more Lots of different restaurants in stores. Much quieter city to wander around than it is in Amsterdam. Great option for a half day trip here.

I had no idea that this station was the oldest station in the Netherlands. It's a beautiful…read morestation, that runs efficiently. It is easy to purchase tickets, and easy to find which platform your train leaves from. There is also a huge bike parking lot for those who want to park and ride. There are a few small shops on the platforms, and many coffee stands. Trains were on time, and no problems getting to my destination.

Basic train station one stop away from Schiphol airport. Mostly sprinters stop here but also some…read moreof the intercity trains to Flevoland. This is an open air station but also quite large. Plan ahead if in a rush.

Low frills train station with easy access to nearby hotels, buses, airport and Amsterdam Centraal…read more Enclosed waiting areas for those cold days. No need to buy a ticket. Just tap your credit card (physical or virtual) when you enter an exit.

Great station. Clean, great location, working automated machines, clearly identified signs - even a…read moretoilet. It's not a full-service station but is covered by the rain and has NS Rail and the Sprinter stops.

This station is on the line between Haarlem and Leiden and on to The Hague. All trains stop here,…read moreso its a very convenient station. Amsterdam central is just 23 minutes away. The station has a small shop with drinks, newspapers, snacks etc. Tickets can be purchased here but it is cheeper at the automatic ticket machines. There is also a florist and a bicycle store and repair service nearby. Both platforms have an enclosed waiting area.

Parking is 8 euros per 24 hours, which is great for parking in Amsterdam. The issue is that they…read moreonly allot so many spaces for this discounted parking. We waited about half an hour and were still three cars back when we decided we'd rather pay 22 euros a day for street parking in front of our hotel. Who knows when the next 4 cars would leave allowing us to park. In 90 degree heat, I'll take convenience over price. If you do decide to wait, they apparently give you tickets for the bus/tram/train to get you to your destination in the centrum. Sounds like a great concept when the lot isn't full. We didn't get so lucky this time.

Lovely little hidden library to sit, study, and be with the books. I didn't get lost in the…read moreloveliness with my curiosity and roam around as much as I normally do. I do appreciate the various seating choices. I chose a cozy single spot to sit and write. There were people scattered amongst the books, reading, writing, reflecting. Libraries are just the best. I don't have much to say since my time was short and focused. I loved that this library is a bit off the beaten path and I look forward to sitting in the courtyard area, sipping a tea, when it gets warmer.

Ah, the Haarlem library. Being an American, I still can't get used to the fact that you have to…read morepay to be a member of the library, but I guess I can understand it. Anyway, it is not expensive, something like €30 per year or something like that. The place is not too bad. There is a lot of bike parking and there is a nice variety of things to check out. They have a few special sections too like a health oriented area, a learning Dutch area (great resource by the way for learning Dutch), a music playing areas (for testing out sheet music, and a computer area. In addition to the computers, they also offer free WiFi. Not all items are "free" (after paying your yearly membership) to checkout. Some items like DVD, CDs, and very recent books (they call them "sprinters") require a minimal fee. Mostly everything is self service from checking out items, returning items, and paying fines. There are of course friendly librarians on hand if you need them. They also have a café right inside as well. I haven't checked it out yet but plan to do so soon. If they don't have something you want, you can order it from another library, you can even do this from home when you login to the website and search for items in the catalog. When the item arrives to be picked up, you get an email. They usually have (either at the library or able to be ordered from another library) pretty much anything that I am looking for. For those of you that don't know Dutch, there is an English section and also some sections with different language books as well, I think French is one of them but I'm not sure. In summary, I good resource here in Haarlem for books and more.

Very informative tour about the history of the windmill on this location, as well as the workings…read moreof windmills in general. Loved the different windmill (section) models showing how everything works! Highly recommend!!

If you're visiting Haarlem I would definitely recommend sparing €3.50 and ~45 minutes of your time…read moreto visit this charming local landmark! Although the original windmill was built in the late 18th century, unfortunately it burned down in 1932, so what you'll see is a 2002 reproduction. Eunice was such a gracious and informative volunteer guide! I learned a lot about the history of this specific windmill as well as milling and wind power in general. Even if you're not really interested in learning about such an obscure topic, there's a great view of Haarlem from the top of the windmill! The building also has a gift shop, restrooms, and an espresso maker, so you can refresh yourself before heading out to do more sightseeing!