Located just 20km west of Amsterdam, with a population of around 150,000, a Haarlem holiday rental is a great choice for a relaxed holiday in the Netherlands. Rent a bike for a week or a weekend, and set out to explore the compact but varied city centre, including – of course – the canals.

Fans of the art of the Dutch Golden Age will love Haarlem's art collections; the Frans Hals Museum, named after the painter who worked in Haarlem in the 17th century, and the Teylers Museum, the oldest museum in the Netherlands, which contains more Dutch art, as well as works by artists such as Michaelangelo and Rembrandt, fossils, minerals, medals and more. Renting a holiday home Haarlem gives you easy access to so many museums, like the Ten Boom House, which tells the story of the Ten Boom family, who hid Jews in their house during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, and the Haarlem Historisch Museum, dedicated to the city's rich and varied history.

There's always plenty going on in the city, from the Bloemencorso flower parade, to the King's Birthday, to the jazz festival and the food festival, and a traditional Christmas market during Advent. Whenever you arrive in your Haarlem holiday rental, there's sure to be something going on! Food lovers should not miss the chance to try some locally produced foods – Grote Markt, the city's main square, hosts a weekly market where you can taste and buy cheeses, sausages, pastries and breads, as well as fruit, vegetables, and flowers. Haarlem has its own beer, Jopen, based on recipes from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. It's not far from Haarlem to the historical beach resort of Noordwijk, or to the city of Leiden, both of which make lovely day trips.