Travel to Netherlands

Day 7 Rotterdam - Alkmaar - Haarlem - Leiden - Rotterdam (221 Km.)

(in 98 Km.) Alkmaar: Alkmaar is a historic city in the province of North Holland, known particularly for its long-standing tradition of cheese trading. The town received city rights in 1254 and played a key role in the Dutch struggle for independence during the Eighty Years' War. In 1573, Alkmaar was the site of a crucial victory against the Spanish army, marking the first successful resistance by a Dutch city during the war. This event, known as the “Victory of Alkmaar,” became a symbol of national resilience. Throughout the centuries, Alkmaar developed as a regional center of trade, with a strong emphasis on agriculture and dairy products. The urban layout preserves medieval elements, including canals, narrow streets, and traditional gabled houses. Alkmaar's cultural and economic identity has remained closely tied to cheese production and distribution, reflected in many of its landmarks and seasonal events.

We began our walking route at the Cheese Market (Kaasmarkt), held in Waagplein. The market operates on Fridays during spring and summer months and features a demonstration of traditional cheese weighing and trading, including porters dressed in guild uniforms. Adjacent to the square is the Waaggebouw, or Weigh House, which dates back to the 14th century. Originally a chapel, the building was later converted into a weighing house and now houses the Dutch Cheese Museum, with exhibitions about cheese-making tools, historical trading practices, and dairy farming. From Waagplein, we proceeded along the Langestraat, passing various 17th-century merchant buildings until we reached the Stadhuis (City Hall). Built in the late Gothic style in the early 16th century, the city hall features a richly decorated façade and a small courtyard that is open to the public.

Continuing our walk, we headed toward the Grote Sint-Laurenskerk, or Church of St. Lawrence, located on the Koorstraat. This large, late Gothic building was completed in the early 16th century and is one of the city’s architectural highlights. Its interior includes the renowned Van Covelens and Van Hagerbeer organs, used during concerts and religious events. After visiting the church, we followed the canal-side paths to the Van Piet Windmill, situated at the eastern edge of the city center. This traditional Dutch windmill is still operational and can occasionally be visited by the public. Along the way, we passed residential areas with historic houses and small bridges that connect the inner-city canals. After visiting the windmill, we concluded our walk back near the Waagplein, having completed a circular route through Alkmaar’s main historical and cultural landmarks on foot.

(in 37 Km.) Haarlem: Haarlem is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland, just west of Amsterdam. It was granted city rights in 1245 and developed as a prominent medieval trading post along the Spaarne River. During the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century, Haarlem became a major cultural and economic center, known for its art, architecture, and textile production. The city was home to famous painters such as Frans Hals and Jacob van Ruisdael. Over time, Haarlem also became recognized for its tulip trade and printing industry. Its cityscape still reflects its prosperous past, with many buildings and streets preserved from that period. Despite suffering damage during World War II, Haarlem maintained its historical charm and continues to serve as a regional hub with a focus on culture, shopping, and heritage tourism.

We began our walking tour along the canals of Haarlem, which run throughout the city and reflect its historic role in water transport and commerce. Following the path along the Spaarne River, we reached the Amsterdamse Poort, the only remaining city gate from the original medieval wall, built around 1355. From there, we continued to the Grote Markt, the central square of Haarlem. The square is surrounded by several key landmarks, including the Stadhuis van Haarlem(City Hall), originally a hunting lodge of the Counts of Holland, expanded in the 14th century and modified in Renaissance style during the 17th century. On the opposite side of the square stands the Grote Kerk of St. Bavo, a late Gothic church constructed between the 14th and 16th centuries. Inside the church, there is a famous Christian Müller organ, once played by both Mozart and Handel.

After leaving the Grote Markt, we made our way through nearby pedestrian streets to visit the Wijngaardtuin, a small enclosed courtyard typical of the city’s hofjes. These hofjes, originally built to house elderly women, still function today and offer insight into Haarlem’s social history. Continuing along the river, we arrived at the Molen de Adriaan, a reconstructed windmill on the banks of the Spaarne, originally built in 1779 and rebuilt in 2002 after a fire destroyed the original. Nearby, we visited the Van der Pigge Pharmacy, which has been operating since 1849 and retains its traditional interior, including antique medicine jars and a tiled counter. To conclude our visit, we stopped at Jopenkerk, a former church converted into a brewery and restaurant. The building still retains many of its ecclesiastical features, including stained glass and vaulted ceilings, now repurposed to house brewing equipment and communal tables where we tasted one of the local craft beers.

(in 48 Km.) Leiden: Leiden is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, located in the province of South Holland. Its origins trace back to Roman times, though it gained prominence in the medieval period. The city was granted rights in 1266 and played a significant role in the Dutch Revolt during the Eighty Years' War. In 1574, it endured a prolonged Spanish siege, which ended after the dikes were breached and the area flooded. As a reward for its resistance, William of Orange founded Leiden University in 1575, the oldest university in the country. The city became a major intellectual and cultural center in the 17th century, attracting scholars, scientists, and artists, including Rembrandt, who was born there in 1606. Leiden also developed a strong textile industry and remains known for its historic architecture, canals, and academic institutions.

We began our walking tour at Morspoort, one of the two remaining city gates, built in 1669 as part of the fortifications. Right nearby, we saw the Molen de Put, a reconstruction of a 17th-century wooden post mill located on the spot where Rembrandt’s father once operated a mill. From there, we followed the canals of Leiden, observing the historical houses and bridges lining the waterways. We continued to the Beestenmarkt, a central square next to the water, from which we had a clear view of Molen de Valk, a large tower mill dating from 1743. Though we did not visit the inside, its silhouette stood prominently in the cityscape. We then proceeded along the Rijn Canal, walking parallel to the busy Haarlemmerstraat, one of Leiden’s main shopping streets, as we moved toward the central part of the city.

Eventually, we arrived at the Burcht van Leiden, a circular 11th-century fortification situated at the confluence of two branches of the Old Rhine. We climbed to the top of the hill for a panoramic view of the city, including the nearby Hooglandse Kerk, a late-Gothic church visible through the trees. From the Burcht, we descended and crossed several bridges, including the Koornbrug, which features a covered walkway and was historically used for grain trading. We continued to the Vismarkt, an area traditionally dedicated to the fish market, now surrounded by restaurants and bars. Our visit concluded in the Stadhuisplein, where we had dinner with friends in front of the Leiden City Hall, a Renaissance-style building originally built in the 16th century and partially reconstructed after a fire in the early 20th century.

(in 38 Km.) Rotterdam: We returned to our accommodation.