What to do in Oude Stad

Activities, attractions and tours

Madame Tussauds featuring interior views as well as an individual male
Madame Tussauds showing interior views
Alkmaar - North-Kennemerland showing a river or creek and street scenes
Haarlem featuring street scenes
Haarlem showing street scenes

Places to Visit in Oude Stad

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Let Expedia.co.nz help you find the most exciting and fun things to do in Oude Stad, Haarlem while also allowing you to save a ton on travel arrangements. Regardless of whether you’re an urban explorer or an intrepid outdoor enthusiast, we can help you decide exactly what to do and see during your time in town.

Our thorough travel guides offer you an insider’s perspective on all of the best Oude Stad attractions from NZ$7, making it easy for you to decide which places to visit and when. And by using Expedia.co.nz to set your sightseeing schedule, you can take in more of the enchanting attractions this area is famous for.

From group Oude Stad tours and must-see landmarks to personal guides who take you off-the-beaten track, Expedia.co.nz offers you over 95 of the most popular events, activities, and attractions in this corner of the world. So whether you’re travelling alone, alongside a loved one, or with the whole family in tow, be sure to browse through our extensive travel guides prior to your plane touching down in this spectacular Oude Stad. We even have a massive selection of flights, car hires, and accommodation for you to choose from. So what are you waiting for? Start your search today, and you’ll be having the time of your life before you know it.

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Top places to visit

1. Grote Markt

Walk through the historic streets filled with ultramodern boutiques, hip fashionistas and trendy cafés of Grote Markt and then step back through time as you enter Haarlem’s main square. In the Grote Markt, you’re surrounded by historic buildings: the Gothic cathedral, the 17th-century town hall, the 13th-century Hoofdwacht building where the civic guard once met and the former meat hall which is now the Museum de Hallen.
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Grote Markt featuring café scenes, street scenes and outdoor eating

2. Frans Hals Museum

Stroll down a narrow cobblestoned street lined with historic houses to visit the Dutch Master artists from Holland’s Golden Age at the Frans Hals Museum. This gallery has history and character. It’s housed inside a building from the early 1600s, which played a role as an almshouse, a retirement home for poor old men and an orphanage. Look for the painting of Haarlem orphans in their red and blue uniforms.
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Frans Hals Museum featuring street scenes and a house as well as a small group of people

3. Corrie Ten Boom House

Visit Corrie ten Boomhuis to remember a time of great fear and brutality, but of great kindnesses and sacrifices too. The historic house commemorates the incredible bravery of the Ten Boom family in hiding Jewish fugitives and fighters in the Dutch resistance movement throughout World War II.
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Corrie Ten Boomhuis showing street scenes

4. St. Bavo Church

At the entrance to the main square of Haarlem, stop for a moment and look up at the great church, Grote Kerk. The Gothic building with the crown-topped clock tower is the Protestant church, also known as St. Bavokerk. This church became the prominent feature on Haarlem’s skyline when it was built in the 14th century and has continued to play an important part in the life of the town.
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Grote Kerk showing heritage architecture and heritage elements

5. Teylers Museum

Teylers Museum is the Netherland’s oldest museum, open to the public since 1784. This collection of art, science, history and oddities is fascinating. Inspect the structure, worth visiting for the stunning architecture alone. The façade’s beautiful neoclassical style, with columns and statuary, is echoed by the understated elegance of its interior.
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Teylers Museum featuring interior views

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Recommended things to do in Oude Stad

Number of things to do
95
Cheapest thing to do on Expedia
Amsterdam off the Beaten Path A Self Guided Expedition: NZ$7
Top 5 things to do
Half-day tours
With kids

What to do in Oude Stad

Discover the most popular places to visit in Oude Stad

Grote Markt featuring café scenes, street scenes and outdoor eating

Grote Markt

Try local delicacies of salted herring, buttery poffertjes and gooey stroopwafels and relax in a cozy café overlooking the buildings of this ancient town square.

Grote Markt
Frans Hals Museum featuring street scenes and a house as well as a small group of people

Frans Hals Museum

See the works of one of the most talented Dutch Master painters. Let the art transport you back to Haarlem as it was in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Frans Hals Museum
Corrie Ten Boomhuis showing street scenes

Corrie Ten Boom House

Visit the historic house where a courageous family hid about 800 Jews and underground resistance fugitives from the Nazis in a secret wardrobe compartment.

Corrie Ten Boom House
Grote Kerk showing heritage architecture and heritage elements

St. Bavo Church

Explore earlier times inside the 15th-century church, nicknamed “Jan with the High Shoulders,” that was at the heart of Haarlem’s community.

St. Bavo Church
Teylers Museum featuring interior views

Teylers Museum

Experience the Enlightenment. Discover an 18th-century merchant’s collection of art, natural history, geology and science in harmonious neoclassical architecture.

Teylers Museum
Cathedral of Saint Bavo which includes religious aspects, a church or cathedral and interior views

Cathedral of Saint Bavo

See the unusual mix of architectural styles in this beautiful Catholic Church. Enjoy a performance by the choir, specially trained at a nearby musical school.

Cathedral of Saint Bavo
Amsterdamse Poort

Amsterdamse Poort

Find out about the history of Oude Stad when you spend time at Amsterdamse Poort. Discover the area's shops or seek out its cycling trails.

Amsterdamse Poort
Molen De Adriaan

Molen De Adriaan

Enjoy an outing to Molen De Adriaan during your stay in Oude Stad. Discover the area's acclaimed art galleries or seek out its cycling trails.

Molen De Adriaan

Corrie ten Boom House

You can find out about the history of Oude Stad with a stop at Corrie ten Boom House. Add the area's shops or churches to your travel plans.

Corrie ten Boom House

 

Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.

 

 

Day trip destinations from Oude Stad

Haarlem which includes street scenes

Haarlem

Photo by Phia Bole

Bloemendaal

Photo by Matthew Rowe

Overveen

Frequently asked questions

Is Oude Stad worth visiting?
Providing a blend of culture and dining, there's no shortage of things to do in Oude Stad. When you're here, check out Frans Hals Museum, a key attraction in the area.
How do I spend a day in Oude Stad?
Kick your day off with a visit to NZH Public Transport Museum. Then, check out different areas of Oude Stad for a quick bite and some retail therapy.
What is the top tourist attraction in Oude Stad?
Spend the day at Frans Hals Museum and discover why it's rated as the top tourist attraction near Oude Stad.
Is three days enough to stay in Oude Stad?
Three days in Oude Stad is plenty of time to experience the nearby hotspots. Many travellers recommend Frans Hals Museum and NZH Public Transport Museum, so why not check them out while you're here?
Is Oude Stad a walkable neighbourhood?
That all comes down to the things you want to experience in and around Oude Stad. Several key sights, such as Frans Hals Museum and NZH Public Transport Museum are easily accessible on foot. How about checking out some other neighbourhoods nearby? Centrum is 0.48 kilometres from Oude Stad, while Stationsbuurt is 0.32 kilometres away.
What are some activities to do in Oude Stad with kids?
If you are after tours and attractions for all of your group, take a look at these fantastic ideas for what to do in Oude Stad with kids.

What to do in Oude Stad for adults?
Corrie ten Boom House is one of the main things to do in Oude Stad. With loads of activities available, there's something here for everyone.
Are there free things to do in Oude Stad?
Near Oude Stad, Grote Markt is a must-visit for anyone who wants to enjoy the area without dipping into their wallet. Also, wander through parks and other neighbourhoods, and don't hesitate to ask a local tour guide for insider tips. It's an easy way to find the most popular free things to do in Oude Stad.