Geography of Haarlem
Haarlem, Netherlands, the capital city of the province of Noord (North) Holland. It is a rail junction 12 miles (19 km) west of central Amsterdam near the North Sea coast. Fields of tulips, narcissuses, and hyacinths, the bulbs of which are exported, stretch southward to Leiden, attracting many tourists. Haarlem produces machinery, chemicals, textiles, and chocolate, and has shipbuilding and printing industries.
Haarlem was the home of the artist Frans Hals, and the Frans Hals Art Gallery has a large collection of his works. In the 15th-century Great Church (St. Bavo) is one of the world's finest organs. The city was chartered in 1245. Its richly ornamented town hall was originally a residence of the counts of Holland.
Population: 148,377.