What opens this weekend

Open Monument Day falls on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September 2026. Haarlem is the fifth monument city in the Netherlands. The local committee opens about 65 buildings, free. Houses, churches, almshouse courtyards, an old cocoa factory. Places you walk past the rest of the year.

The national theme is Resilient heritage, tagged In times of uncertainty. In Haarlem that shows up in buildings that still work: Paviljoen Welgelegen, Hodshon House, the KoepelKathedraal, the town hall, Droste.

Open Monument Day turns forty this year.

How to plan it

Start with the programme booklet and map from committee Haarlem. Visit Haarlem carries the same list, plus walking and cycling routes past participating buildings. A printed booklet sits at VVV Haarlem and at the monuments themselves.

Not every address opens both days. Some hofjes and churches do Saturday only. Check hours per door before you lock a tight route. Local coverage this year named Bakenesserkerk, Brouwershofje, Gravinnehof and Janskerk (Noord-Hollands Archief) as places you can step inside.

There are city walks, short guided tours, organ recitals, and sometimes a climb up a church tower. Those extras live in the booklet. They are not painted on every facade.

Pair it with your own walk

Between two buildings you can start a self-guided walk in the app. No group departure. Pause when a door is open.

• Hidden courtyards if you already want to look behind Haarlem's front doors
• Haarlem Highlights for Grote Markt, Grote Kerk and the core of the old centre

Come by train or bike. Haarlem Centraal is a ten-minute walk from Grote Markt. Driving into the centre gets tight.

Source

Dates, participating buildings and the booklet: Open Monumentendag Haarlem and Visit Haarlem. Hours per location can still move. Check again the night before.