The St. Bavo Church in Haarlem

A fabulous building and probably the most impressive church in the Netherlands. There is a small entrance charge which is well worth paying. Helpful staff on the entrance desk. You get a small helpful guide. The scale of the building is breathtaking, the organ is one of the most beautiful I have seen (and an organist friend tells me it's good to play. Lovely modern stained glass in the North transept. I liked the range of things on offer in the gift shop. They sometimes do tours but sadly these were not taking place on the day I was there.

What an incredible place! The St. Bavo Church (also known as the Grote Kerk or Sint-Bavokerk) in Haarlem is truly breathtaking and turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip. From the moment we stepped into the bustling Grote Markt square, the towering Gothic exterior with its elegant lantern tower caught everyone’s eye. Inside, the vast, light-filled nave with its stunning wooden vaulted ceiling and whitewashed walls feels both grand and peaceful, perfect for wandering around without feeling overwhelmed. The kids absolutely loved it! They were fascinated by the historic gravestones covering the floor (over 1,500 of them!), the model ships hanging from the ceiling, and especially the massive Christian Müller organ a 30 meter high masterpiece from 1738 that’s been played by legends like Handel and a 10-year-old Mozart. The sheer scale of it blew their minds, and they kept pointing out the intricate carvings and gilded details. What made the visit even better was the staff, they were incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and eager to share stories about the church’s history, from its medieval origins to its famous organ concerts. They answered all our questions with enthusiasm, making it engaging for the whole family. At a modest entry fee, it’s an absolute must see when in Haarlem. Whether you’re into architecture, history, or just looking for a serene spot in the city center, this gem won’t disappoint. Highly recommended!

An incredible historic church to visit! The brochure was very good to read as we explored the church that dates back 500 years. The organ, with its perfectly maintained 5068 pipes is a must see (Mozart played it as a 10 year old). We wished there was a concert scheduled while here in Haarlem but unfortunately not. The 1434 altar and the choir screen are incredible! There is a 4 euro entrance fee. We have no problem paying such a fee to enter a church. Churches are museums! There are toilets too!

What an incredible sight to see! The history of the church is amazing. The floors are actually tombs with the black stone, so old it's worn. The metallic bird is from the 1400s. The organ was played my Mozart & Handel. The statue in the corner is also from the 1400s. It was originally part of the exterior, you can't really see how the weather had eroded over centuries.

Beautiful old church in the middle of one of the greatest city squares in the world. We spent a wonderful hour touring the church and listening to the organ being played. Both Handel and Mozart played on that same organ. The ladies in the ticket office/gift shop were incredibly kind and helpful. There are plenty of places on the square to grab a drink or a meal, all with amazing views of the church. Such a pleasant, relaxing place.

Beautiful church and the organ inside was amazing - unfortunately my experience was marred by a prejudiced interaction with one of the attendants in the shop (where you pay to get in). She questioned my decision for an English pamphlet and basically stated that because I look Indian physically - that I couldn’t possibly speak English even though our whole conversation took place in English. Her exact words were “are you sure?” When I asked her what language she thought I spoke, she looked shocked I talked back and blurted out “Italian”. Like be for real, no one would think I was Italian. Maybe she felt emboldened because I was by myself but it took away from the whole experience and I did not observe her saying this to anyone else.

DOG FRIENDLY!!! We visited when the mighty church organ was being played and our usually nervous pooch was unconcerned. Staff were really friendly.

The cathedral is located a bit outside Haarlem’s main city center. Unfortunately, we arrived during the rain and outside of the church’s opening hours, so we couldn’t go inside. Still, from the outside, the church is large and beautifully built — an impressive sight even in gloomy weather. It's a shame we couldn’t explore the interior, but it’s definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area during opening hours.

We decided to go to Haarlem for the day. Unfortunately it was Monday and there's not as much opened on Monday but we were lucky to see this beautiful church. There's lots to see and we spent quite a bit time here. The organ is massive and gorgeous and Mozart played on it at the age of 10! We recommend seeing this impressive expansive place.

We decided to stay In Haarlem just a bus 20 minute bus ride from Amsterdam, the church is in the marketplace and is rich with Dutch culture, the gothic church is beautifully decorated with splashes of royal red inside which compliments the Muller Organ wonderfully, the church bells and light are a peaceful reminder of the presence of this wonderful church, inside are graves of the wealthy. Rotted bodies buried underneath large slabs of stone seeped up into the church, this is where the term "Stinking rich" comes from. Don't worry it doesn't smell any longer and added a wonderful touch after returning from other cities and places. We would come up and enjoy the rest of our evenings here peacefully while overlooking the church.

We happened to catch the church just as they were performing a concert on the giant (largest in Holland) pipe organ. The unique thing about this church is that it has a bunch of quirky little items added over the years to make it entertaining and educational. There's a cannonball stuck in the wall here, a giant pendulum hanging from the ceiling over there, a bunch of unlucky people carvings holding up the roof pillars up there and even a dog whipper carved in to stone over there. Plus other unique Dutch things as well such as 3 small Dutch ship models hanging from the ceiling. Not your typical church/cathedral but then again, you need to look close to see them all.

The "Big Church" costs you a moderate 2,50EUR fee but this pays off quickly once you are inside the building. There you'll find Beautifully colored ceilings, windows and original wall paintings (a few of them are from the 1400s!), a small "coffee corner" which serves good but strong coffee and an organ which is breathtakingly huge. At least in the summer, every Thursday and Tuesday there is a concert.

Haarlem is a must visit city! Quick train ride from Amsterdam and this church is only 2.50 euros to enter. The church is beautiful and provides many photo opportunities. We were there on Saturday before Easter and got to hear the choir practicing, wow. The organ is spectacular and both Mozart and Handel played on the organ. Frans Hals is buried here. This church is the subject of paintings by Saenredam. There was also a market in the square outside the church on Saturday! Not a far walk through town across the canals to Molen de Adriaan.