Our home is perfectly located within a short bike ride from the dunes of the natural reserve Zuid-Kennemerland National Park where you will find swimming lakes and beaches, and the city center of Haarlem. All of this within a 15-minute train ride from Amsterdam. All day-to-day amenities are within walking and biking distance. The house is comfortable, family-friendly, and light. There are 4 bedrooms, one of which is set up a spacious office and two children's bedrooms, but all can be converted into sleeping spaces for adults (we have pull out couches and mattress toppers) and feature blackout curtains. We have a small backyard which gets sun all day from late spring to early fall, and can be enjoyed even on colder days with the wood-burning stove. Our open plan kitchen keeps the whole downstairs area connected. Additionally, our neighbors are kind, helpful and thoughtful, making the living experience here incredibly pleasant.
For parents, we of course have all the necessary items like high chairs, cribs and toddler beds, children's crockery, toys, a sand/water table outside and two great playgrounds within one block of the house. We additionally have an electric cargo bike (Urban Arrow) and helmets available for getting around - as well as some regular bikes.
** Please note: we have an elderly female cat who's very self-sufficient. We have a feeding tower and a water fountain for her, she does her "business" in the outdoor litter box, and she only remains downstairs so there is little in the way of care needed, but it would be of course great to have guests who enjoy the company of cats and certainly those who aren't allergic :)
The space
We have 4 bedrooms, of which 2 are kids rooms, 1 master bedroom and 1 spacious office. All can be converted into sleeping areas for adults/older children and all have blackout curtains.
Guest access
There are two flights of stairs, on each of the two upper levels there are two bedrooms. There's a backyard and a small front yard where we keep our bikes.
Notes
There is 1 shower/bathroom, though there is a second toilet on the ground level.
Features
Washer
Dishwasher
Clothes dryer
Oven
Microwave
Coffee machine
Fridge
Iron
Hair dryer
Heating
Air conditioning
TV
WiFi
High Speed Internet
Bathtub
First aid kit
Wheelchair accessible
Smoke alarms
Fire extinguisher
Bed sheets
Towels
Workspace
Fireplace
Home cinema
Toys
Gym
Sauna
BBQ
Pool
Hot tub
Balcony
Garden / yard
Deck / patio / courtyard / terrace
Covered porch / verandah
Kosher home
Meat-free kitchen
Gated community
EV Home Charger
Bikes
Camping gear
Kayak
Tennis court
Standup paddleboard
Travel Styles
Weekend
Budget
Family
Romantic
Foodie
Relaxing
City
Village
Beach
Water
Culture
Hiking
Cycling
House rules
Suitable for infants under 2
Suitable for children ages 2-12
Pets not allowed
No smoking
Allergens
Dog free
Carpet free
Smoke free
Dates of Availability
This member has chosen to hide this section from Non-Premium members.
Neighbourhood
Amsterdam is around the corner (20 mins by car, or 15 by train). Haarlem center is 15 mins by (cargo) bike or 10 mins by car away. Our direct area is quite residential, but there are bakeries, supermarkets and coffee spots all within 10-15 mins walk from the house. There are playgrounds, squares and a beautiful park nearby, all within a few minutes' walk. Biking makes everything even closer, of course. Within 15 mins bike, you have Haarlem center, which is absolutely gorgeous, and in the opposite direction you have the Zuid-Kennemerland National Park with dunes, swimming lakes and beaches. For parents of young kids and nature lovers, the Kweektuin also in Haarlem North is a complete crowd pleaser. For coffee and pastry/cake lovers, Nes71 is the cutest little coffee shop close by.
Getting to my home
The best way to get to my house from Schiphol airport is by car, as it's very direct and inexpensive if you book in advance. The train is also an option and then from the station it's a short bus or taxi ride over.
Nearest airport
Schiphol airport, 20 mins by car
Getting around
The best way to get around in Haarlem is by bike. We have a cargo bike and 4 other bikes available for you to use. You can also use our car during your stay - it's a 2010 Renault Clio so not the newest or the biggest but in good condition. Parking can get quite expensive in the Netherlands but some things further away are more convenient by car.
Map of Approximate Location
This member has chosen to hide this section from Non-Premium members.
Feedback
This member has chosen to hide this section from Non-Premium members.
We're a family of four - my husband Annis and I, and our two daughters Alicia (3) and Nina (1). We live in Haarlem, the Netherlands, but are originally from São Paulo, Brazil and Cape Town, South Africa. We have never officially home shared, but we stay in our family's second homes when we travel to our home countries and have used house renting platforms for other travel. There's something very special about staying somewhere that's lived in and that feels like a proper home. It's almost as if you are living in that destination however short the stay. With our two small girls we find having a solid base and a homey place to properly recharge after days exploring makes travel so much more comfortable for our family.
People Like Us is the world's most trusted home exchange community. We believe in sharing, trust, generosity, respect, communication, equality, cooperation, honesty, hospitality, friendship, flexibility and adventure. We take pride in our homes and we care about the environment in which we live: our village, city, country and our planet. We care about the ethos of home exchange and we do it because we love the experience and the friendships that it generates.