Haarlem, the Netherlands

 

from Cologne we drove to our next stop

Haarlem, the Netherlands

 

we stayed in a great flat right next to a canal

it was very picturesque

(and Aaron said it made up for the hostel in Cologne)

 

on our first morning we walked to the center of town

Grote Markt

and saw Sint Bavokerk

this impressive church



 this organ was played by Handel and a young Mozart

 

 we loved the variety of textures and materials in this vibrant, historical church

 

 

the main reason for staying in Haarlem was getting to visit

the Ten Boom House

this is where Corrie ten Boom and her family hid jews and students

during WW2

 

we kept missing the english language tours

but thankfully caught the last one of the day

 it was a very moving experience to hear their story

while sitting in their living room surrounded

by Ten Boom family pictures

and belongings

 

this family loved and honored the Lord

this museum does the same

it is a beautiful testament to Jesus

and memorial to the Ten Boom family

 

we recommend it

 

while we were waiting for the tour we went to the

Teylers Museum

and saw lots of paintings by Dutch masters

but the coolest rooms were the science rooms with things like this:

 a battery from 1789!

 

the Dutch have some pretty splendid stores on the high street:

the boys kind of melted towards the end of the Ten Boom tour

so we saw the hiding place in Corrie's room

and skedaddled on out of there

and over to a coffee shop for some vital vittles

(aka a massive slice of Dutch apple pie)

walking home over canals

with a quick stop to pick up dinner

some sweet brother time

 

Haarlem was such a relaxing, beautiful, walkable town

I'd go back in a heartbeat!