No. of Recommendations: 2
We loved Haarlem. Our plan was to use it as a base for visiting Amsterdam, but it turned out there was so much to see and do--and shop and eat!--that we never made it into Amsterdam. Take a tour of the canal that surrounds Haarlem on an open 8-passenger boat captained by a local who knows everything about his city, enjoy the morning market in the town square, wander into the huge church there, visit the fine art museum. If you decide to go to Haarlem, I can give you the name of a terrific B&B.
Leiden and Utrecht are great, too. And Ghent. Public transportation to all of them is excellent.
