Amsterdamse Poort
Amsterdamse Poort
3.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
3.5
143 reviews
Excellent
35
Very good
54
Average
39
Poor
10
Terrible
5
FamilyWeingart
Chicago, IL22 contributions
Dec 2019
Certainly worth a visit if you're in the area, but not a reason to go to Haarlem (fortunately there are plenty of other reasons to go to Haarlem). It is a great representation of what the walls of Haarlem used to be and just how tall they were.
You can walk under the gate, but that's about it (it appears that someone may actually live in the tower... but there are no tours that I know of).
You can walk under the gate, but that's about it (it appears that someone may actually live in the tower... but there are no tours that I know of).
Written January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Angela M
Pennsylvania106 contributions
Mar 2020
If you are already in Haarlem, feel free to add this to your day if you are close-by! We stopped after a trip to the de Adriaan windmill. It's a nice piece of history and a good place for a photo.
Written March 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leo S
New York City, NY25 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
Nothing hugely impressive, but a pretty enough historical Gate. It gives you some sense of the ancient city walls.
Written January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mairwen1
United Kingdom11,299 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
On first impression the Amsterdamse Poort (city gate) looks a lot like a mini castle. What you see here is a heavy stone fortressed city gate that dates back to 1355.
There were once 12 of these gates but this is the only one to survive.
It’s within easy walking distance from the centre of Haarlem (about 10 - 15 minutes form the main square).
The gate you see here today looks much the same as it did centuries ago. You can still walk through the ancient gateways, just as you could almost 700 years ago.
The short, tunnel-like bridge crosses over a narrow canal-moat and tall, octagonal towers stand at each corner. You can easily imagine the guards high above, keeping watch on the comings and goings below.
On one side, there is a modern sculpture that depicts a local heroine, Kenau, who is said to have raised a small army of 300 local women to help defend the city in the 16th century Siege of Haarlem. Local legend has it that she stood here, on the walls of the Amsterdamse Poort, and fearlessly fended off the attacking Spanish troops. How much of this is true is anyones guess but it is surprising that the gate survived the siege when other gates did not.
The sculpture depicts Kenau and some of the women but its a modern, abstract work and it’s hard to figure out what its about. If you didn’t know the story, you would probably walk right past it without paying it much attention.
It’s worth noting that the towers are not open to the public so you can’t see inside Amsterdamse Poort. Even so, it’s still an interesting thing to visit briefly if you have the time. It’s free and, if you young kids with you, they’ll have fun running back and forth across the bridge.
There were once 12 of these gates but this is the only one to survive.
It’s within easy walking distance from the centre of Haarlem (about 10 - 15 minutes form the main square).
The gate you see here today looks much the same as it did centuries ago. You can still walk through the ancient gateways, just as you could almost 700 years ago.
The short, tunnel-like bridge crosses over a narrow canal-moat and tall, octagonal towers stand at each corner. You can easily imagine the guards high above, keeping watch on the comings and goings below.
On one side, there is a modern sculpture that depicts a local heroine, Kenau, who is said to have raised a small army of 300 local women to help defend the city in the 16th century Siege of Haarlem. Local legend has it that she stood here, on the walls of the Amsterdamse Poort, and fearlessly fended off the attacking Spanish troops. How much of this is true is anyones guess but it is surprising that the gate survived the siege when other gates did not.
The sculpture depicts Kenau and some of the women but its a modern, abstract work and it’s hard to figure out what its about. If you didn’t know the story, you would probably walk right past it without paying it much attention.
It’s worth noting that the towers are not open to the public so you can’t see inside Amsterdamse Poort. Even so, it’s still an interesting thing to visit briefly if you have the time. It’s free and, if you young kids with you, they’ll have fun running back and forth across the bridge.
Written July 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AmerikaansBurger
County Dublin, Ireland64 contributions
Sept 2014 • Family
This is interesting because it's over 650 years old and is the only Haarlem city gate left, but if you're not interested in the history then it's rather underwhelming (especially if you have visited France's chateaus - in comparison to those, this is a small gate surrounded by aesthetically offensive modern buildings). In any case, if you're already within a few minutes' walk, then you might as well see it.
Written September 3, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ronald_jelle
The Hague, The Netherlands2,622 contributions
Jul 2013 • Solo
Unlike Leiden there isn't much to do close to the city gate, but as an landmark and historic object it is still worth visiting. It's nice for some nice holiday pictures and this gate is different from other Dutch city gates.
It's for free, it will take you about 10 minutes from the Grote Markt, so if your in Haarlem anyway, why not take a look?.
It's for free, it will take you about 10 minutes from the Grote Markt, so if your in Haarlem anyway, why not take a look?.
Written January 8, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Renee Ezung
Kohima, India18 contributions
Oct 2019 • Friends
Took a day trip to Haarlem from Amsterdam. It’s a pretty small town so you can explore it on foot within a couple of hours provided you don’t take very long stops.
Amsterdamse Poort is such a lovely structure. Besides it’s historical significance, it’s a pretty spot to get a photo.
That’s about it though, nothing much to do there.
Bonus: There was hardly anyone around when we reached the location as it was towards evening.
Amsterdamse Poort is such a lovely structure. Besides it’s historical significance, it’s a pretty spot to get a photo.
That’s about it though, nothing much to do there.
Bonus: There was hardly anyone around when we reached the location as it was towards evening.
Written October 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Clogs
Poland3,032 contributions
Feb 2018 • Solo
Beautiful old gate, reminding of Haarlem's rich past and struggles with enemy armies like the spanish. Pretty statuette behind it shows Kenau Simonsdochter leading Haarlem's women to defend the city against the spanish. Pretty lighting, awesome photo opp. Walk back towards the Grote Markt and old town via the old Olyphant bridge. Recommended.
Written February 21, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nancy W
Entiat, WA12 contributions
May 2014 • Couples
Be sure to visit the Windmill Museum. I was fascinated. Couldn't believe how adaptable they are and their history. Great views of the area from the upper levels.
Written June 5, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael K
Waterloo, Canada168 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
A gatehouse from the old city boundaries. You can walk through it and see the old stone. There is not much information actually provided at this location, but you can still use it as they did in the past. Beautiful spot to look at!
Written April 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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