Historic Haarlem Home in the Charming Old City Quarters
Town house • Haarlem Netherlands
6 Guests
4 Bedrooms
2 Beds
2.5 Bathrooms
Primary home
Exchange types accepted
Simultaneous
Non-Simultaneous
Non-Reciprocal
Statistics
Listed January 2025
Views 1330
General Overview
Our home is located in the historic old city centre of Haarlem, one of the most beautiful and walkable cities in the Netherlands. We live just moments from the iconic Grote Kerk St. Bavo and the main town square (Grote Markt) surrounded by the iconic "Gouden Straatjes", where you'll find a traditional, cozy shopping atmosphere and countless unique boutiques. From concept stores and vintage shops to artisanal speciality shops and exclusive design boutiques. Despite being so central, the house itself feels calm and settled, tucked into the rhythm of old Haarlem.
The home is a historic property built in 1895, on the foundations of Haarlem’s original city wall. It blends character, space, and everyday comfort, making it an ideal base for experiencing city life on foot while also exploring the wider Netherlands with ease.
The Space
This is a traditional Dutch townhouse spread over three levels, with high ceilings and a warm, lived-in feel. It is a real family home rather than a hotel-style property, and guests are welcome to enjoy the full space.
Ground floor:
Private entrance and hallway with stairs leading up through the house.
First floor:
A large open living area with comfortable seating, fireplace, dining space, and a fully equipped kitchen. This floor also has a guest toilet, which is very convenient for daily use. From this level there is access to a private back patio, ideal for outdoor meals or relaxing in the evenings.
Second floor:
A spacious main bedroom and a large bathroom with:
Walk-in shower
Bathtub
Double basins
Toilet
Washing machine and dryer
There is also a small balcony at the back.
Third (top) floor:
Three rooms:
One fully furnished guest bedroom
One home office suitable for remote work
One additional room with foldable mattresses, suitable for children or extra guests. This floor also has a further toilet and basin, making a total of three toilets in the house.
The house has central heating throughout, with individually controlled panels, and a fully equipped modern kitchen including an induction hob, oven, convection oven, steamer, fridge, freezer, and built-in coffee machine.
Guest Access
Guests will have access to the entire home, including all living areas, kitchen, bathrooms, patios, and balconies.
Please note:
The home has multiple staircases and is spread over three levels. There is no lift
Accessibility Notes
This is a typical historic Dutch city home and is not wheelchair accessible. It is not suitable for guests with limited mobility or those who find stairs challenging.
We prefer to be very clear about this so guests can plan comfortably.
Notes
This is our lived-in family home, not a rental property. Strong Wi-Fi is available, making the house suitable for remote work.
We do not own a car, and there is no private parking. The street directly in front of the house is a pedestrian-only zone, which adds to the calm and safety of the location.
Features
Fridge
WiFi
Bed sheets
Oven
Towels
Washer
TV
Heating
Hair dryer
Microwave
Iron
Dishwasher
Smoke alarms
Workspace
Clothes dryer
Coffee machine
High Speed Internet
Garden / yard
Bathtub
Air conditioning
Deck / patio / courtyard / terrace
BBQ
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher
Balcony
Fireplace
Toys
Covered porch / verandah
Bikes
Pool
Gym
Wheelchair accessible
Home cinema
Hot tub
Gated community
EV Home Charger
Standup paddleboard
Camping gear
Kayak
Sauna
Tennis court
Meat-free kitchen
Kosher home
Piano
Travel Styles
Long term
Weekend
Family
Romantic
Foodie
City
Culture
Cycling
Good public transport
House Rules
Unsuitable for infants under 2
Unsuitable for children ages 2-12
Pets not allowed
No smoking
Allergens
Cat free
Dog free
Smoke free
Dates of Availability
This member has chosen to hide this section from Non-Premium members.
Neighbourhood
The neighborhood is one of the most sought-after areas in Haarlem. Everything you might need is within a short walk.
Nearby highlights include:
Corrie ten Boom House
Teylers Museum
Frans Hals Museum
Canal walks along Nieuwegracht
A fully working historic windmill, De Adriaan, about an eight-minute walk away
There is a park just three minutes away, and in summer the area comes alive with canal boat rides, cafés, and outdoor dining.
Haarlem is also very health- and movement-oriented. There are many gyms, yoga studios, Pilates and fitness spaces nearby, most offering day passes or short-term access, making it easy to maintain routines while staying here.
Getting to my home
Getting to Our Home
By air:
Schiphol Airport is approximately 20 minutes away by car or 40 minutes by train or direct bus.
By train:
Haarlem station is nearby and well-connected, with frequent trains throughout the day. Direct train 15 minutes to Amsterdam.
By road:
Haarlem is easily accessible by road, but a car is not necessary for staying here.
Nearest airport
Schiphol Airport
Approximately 20 minutes by car/shuttle and 40 min by train or bus
Getting Around
Because of the central location, most guests find they do not need a car. Shops, supermarkets, cafés, restaurants, museums, parks, fitness studios, and public transport are all within easy walking distance.
Bicycles are easy to rent locally, and there is space to store bicycles securely both inside and outside the property.
Public transport connections make it easy to explore beyond Haarlem:
Amsterdam – about 20 minutes by train
Zandvoort and Bloemendaal – about 15 minutes away
The Hague, Rotterdam, and Utrecht – all easily reachable by train within about 30–60 minutes.
We had a great stay in Zona and Michael's beautiful house, located in the heart of the charming city of Haarlem and a stone's throw from the train station, very convenient for visiting the country. We highly recommend to discover the Netherlands😀
Zona&Michael hebben een groot en mooi modern verbouwd huis. De locatie is echt super want zodra je de deur uit stapt, 50 meter de heerlijk rustige straat uitloopt (s nachts heerlijk stil), sta je in de binnenstad. En op nog geen 10 min. Lopen van het station dus je kan echt alles lopend doen. Supermarkt om de hoek alle winkels en leuke restaurantjes heel dichtbij.
Het huis is heel minimalistisch ingericht wat het iets minder doet voelen als een ' klassieke ' huizenruil. Maar ergens ook weer heerlijk (wou dat ik het zelf thuis soms zo opgeruimd kon houden) en het maakte het huis zeker niet minder fijn. We vonden het een heel fijn, schoon, ruim huis en hebben genoten van de grote bank. De communicatie met zona was erg prettig snel en duidelijk. Heel erg bedankt zona & Michael en hopelijk ruilen we nog eens als jullie een weekendje Utrecht willen of we komen graag nog eens een weekend terug voor een pluto!
Thank you so much for your kind words, we really appreciate it.
We are so glad you enjoyed the house, the location, and had a comfortable stay. It means a lot to hear that.
We are still adding our personal touches over time, but we’re really happy it felt like a calm and comfortable space for you.
It was a pleasure hosting you, and we would happily exchange again. A weekend in Utrecht sounds like a lovely idea, or you are always very welcome back for another stay.
Warm regards,
Zona & Michael
Michael& Zona are super guests. we had back to back exchanges and could not receive them but all communication was very easy. They took very good care of the house, the cat and even received groceries for us so we come home with a full fridge🤩. Thanks for this nice exchange. Hope for another weekend exchange in the future.
We had an absolutely wonderful experience staying on the houseboat and loved it from the moment we arrived. It was such a special place to stay, and we felt completely at home.
Communication with Eva throughout was warm, friendly and very responsive, which made everything easy. The location was also fantastic, with great public transport connections and everything we needed close by, while still being an easy trip from our home in Haarlem.
We especially loved looking after Loekie, their cat, and I even tried stand-up paddleboarding for the first time, which was great fun!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful home with us. We enjoyed the whole experience so much that we may just have added living on a houseboat to our retirement plans! We would be very happy to exchange again.
We had a wonderful stay in Philippe and Julia's lovely apartment. It was comfortable, well equipped and had everything we needed for a relaxing stay. They were incredibly generous in allowing us to use their car, which made exploring the area so easy. We were also lucky enough to be there during the Fêtes de Bayonne festival, and they thoughtfully left us two red scarves so we could feel part of the celebrations. It was such a kind touch. We had a fantastic time exploring San Sebastián, Biarritz and the beautiful Basque coast. Thank you for sharing your lovely home with us.
Philippe and Julia were thoughtful and respectful guests. Communication was straightforward, and they took good care of our home. They left everything clean and tidy, and we appreciated how understanding and flexible they were throughout the exchange. We would happily recommend them to other exchange members.
Feedback for Fred·Non-Reciprocal exchange·13 nights
We had the most amazing time at Fred and Mares home and also met their lovely children. We were fortunate enough to enjoy two evenings with them and were treated to delicious meals and genuine hospitality. The house itself is spectacular, and the art pieces are captivating. The location was great, and we enjoyed some wonderful beach days in Antibes and Cannes and the nearby towns, especially Valbonne. Overall a wonderful stay, and we hope to be back again one day! Thank you, Fred. & Mares!
Feedback for Sara·Non-Simultaneous exchange·3 nights
A wonderful home exchange experience from start to finish. Sara kindly confirmed the exchange at very short notice, literally less than 48 hours before the trip, which was hugely appreciated.
The home was lovely, comfortable, and equipped with everything needed for a great stay. The location was excellent, with fantastic pâtisseries, brasseries, supermarkets, and transport links all nearby. The Eiffel Tower was even within walking distance and we visited the local Saturday market.
A thoughtful welcome treat on arrival was also a lovely surprise and made the stay feel extra special.
Communication with the host was easy throughout, and the overall experience was seamless and enjoyable. Highly recommended.
We had a really lovely first home exchange with Eva and her family. As it was our first time, we especially appreciated how experienced they are and how generously they shared their home guide with us. It was incredibly helpful and made the whole process feel easy and supported from the start.
Communication was warm and clear throughout, which created a strong sense of trust.
They took great care of our home and were very considerate. Even though we had said it wasn’t necessary, they washed all the bedding, looked after our houseplants, and left everything in great condition.
We also came home to a tub of ice cream in the freezer, which was such a thoughtful and unexpected touch. They also offered us a Globe for the 3-night stay.
All in all, a really positive experience. We would happily recommend them to other hosts and would absolutely exchange again.
Thank you again for everything.
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