Route & Timetable

COMBINATION TICKETS

Check out the possibilities to combine a cruise with a visit to one of our partners to better explore Haarlem.

MUSEUMS

• Teyler’s Museum
• Frans Hals Museum
• The Museum Dolhuys
• Beer brewery the Jopenkerk

CATERING INDUSTRY

• Restaurant Diga
• Restaurant Parels

The “Spaarne”

Originally the Spaarne was a connection between the Haarlemmermeer and the IJ. In the 13th century a dam with sluices was build  in the Spaarne at the mouth of the IJ presented as part of the Spaarndammerdijk. Here arose the village Spaarndam. This was the Kolksluis and later the Grand Sluice, the main drainage of the polder of the Rijnland. After the draining of the Haarlemmermeer (1852) Spaarne has become an arm of the Ringvaart. The draining of the Haarlemmermeer had the effect of greatly reduced the flow of the Spaarne. The water of the Haarlemmermeer was now also via the ring canal and F Side to the North Sea Canal and the IJ: The river became shallower. In the construction of the North Sea Canal (completed in 1876) reclaimed large parts of the IJ; at Spaarndam is spared some of the IJ. From Spaarndam you can reach the North Sea via the side channel C. The river Spaarne was in favor of the companies on the Spaarne, as the shipyard Conrad and engineering Figee, repeatedly adjusted. Conrad prolongs itself the 7.5-meter-wide lock from 28 to 43 meters and in 1898 the company will pay three-quarters of the extension and widening to 100 by 12 meters. The city of Haarlem deepened after much insistence from Spaarne.

The canals

The city of Haarlem is surrounded by ditches and canals dug from the Middle Ages to protect the city from enemies outside the city. Whenever the city grew and the seams began to crack were dug new pits again to add new pieces of land the city within the city walls for the new homes of the people. So slowly emerged a pattern canals in a star shape around Haarlem. Leiden Leidsevaart, also known under the names Leidsevaart, Leiden Trekvaart and Haarlemmertrekvaart was an important route for barges between Haarlem and Leiden, through the bulb. The canal begins at the former Mare Gate in Leiden and flows into the Spaarne. The New Canal is the last ditch dug in Haarlem and is exactly recreated in size of the Amsterdam canals. The Haarlem hoped that there would be just such beautiful canal houses built as in Amsterdam. That wish has come true only partially. Bins Esser Canal, originating Bakenes was a tongue of land southeast of the center of Haarlem, virtually enclosed by a bend in the river Spaarne. The name is probably derived from nes (nose) and highlights the shape of the headland, which would have been a beacon for ships. In the 14th century this area was situated within the city of Haarlem.

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