8.30am Meet and greet with your English-speaking guide / driver in the hotel lobby, from where you will be taken for a 45-minute drive by luxurious private vehicle to the historical city Haarlem.
Upon arrival, there will be a guided tour of the Corrie Ten Boom House. During the Second World War, the Ten Boom family home became a refuge and hiding place for fugitives and those hunted by the Nazis. By protecting these people, the family Ten Boom including Corrie and her sister Betsie, risked their lives.
Between 1943 and 1944, there were usually 6 to 7 people illegally living in this home: Jews and members of the Dutch underground. Through these activities, the Ten Boom family saved the lives of an estimated 800 Jews and protected many Dutch underground workers. On February 28, 1944, the family was betrayed and arrested by the Gestapo including Corrie and Betsie. Although the Gestapo systematically searched the house, they could not find what they were looking for. The Jews were safely hidden behind a double wall in Corrie’s bedroom. Although the house remained guarded, the Resistance was able to liberate the refugees 47 hours later.
Because underground materials were found in their home, the Ten Boom family was imprisoned. Corrie and Betsie were sent to Ravensbruck Concentration Camp, where they spent most of their time. Betsie (59) died in Ravensbruck, but Corrie survived. She died on her 91st birthday, April 15, 1983.
11.15am We continue with an interesting walking tour of the historical city center. With Amsterdam close by, Haarlem remains undiscovered. You'll get see this historical city in a delightful way. Haarlem is the capital of North Holland and this task fulfills Haarlem with dignity. Not only the remarkable facades along the Spaarne river, beloved squares, old alleys and lots of ancient courtyards - make Haarlem extremely attractive. Haarlem is also a Burgundian city, with several of starred restaurants as well as countless cozy taverns, world restaurants and cafés.
The walk shows you the most beautiful places. You discover the most beautiful courtyards and special churches, but also modern buildings are not skipped. All kinds of amazing stories come to life.
During the walk, there is leisure time for lunch.
2.45pm The walk will end at the Frans Hals Museum, for a guided tour. The museum was established in 1862. In 1950, the museum was split in two locations when the collection of modern art was moved to the Museum De Hallen (since 2018 called Hal). The main collection, including its famous 17th-century Frans Hals paintings, for which the museum is named, is located in the former Oude Mannenhuis on the Groot Heiligland. The museum was founded in 1862 in the newly renovated former Dominican church cloisters located in the back of the Haarlem city hall known as the Prinsenhof, and when it needed more space, it moved to the recently vacated location of the town orphanage in 1913. The collection is based on the large number of paintings owned by the City of Haarlem, which includes over 100 artworks seized from Catholic churches in the 1580s after the Protestant Reformation, and Haarlem art rescued from demolished local buildings from the 15th century onwards. In 2018, the museum re-merged with Museum De Hallen to form a single museum called the Frans Hals Museum with two locations: Hof (located on Groot Heiligland) and Hal (located on Grote Markt).
4.15pm From here, you will be taken back to your hotel in Amsterdam, where you will have the remainder of the day for your own leisure. You will arrive back around 5pm.
