The Stadsbibliotheek Haarlem is a collective name
for all public libraries in the Haarlem area of the
Netherlands. The first public library of Haarlem opened in 1921 at the
cloisters of the Haarlem City Hall where the academic
library had been since 1821. The move to open its doors to the public with a
public reading room was only possible after the previous occupant of the downstairs
cloisters, the Frans Hals Museum, moved out in 1913 to its present location. As of
2009, there are 6 public libraries and 10 lending points, such as in hospitals.
The Haarlem central library
Acta Eruditorum
Krijgsraadkamer with fireplace and picture of Abraham de Vries.
Haarlem's Civic Guard (the one bearing the flag of St. Adrian) portrait by Hendrik Gerritsz Pot in 1630 on what is now library steps. It once hung in the study hall.
The City Hall in Haarlem is the seat of the city's government. It was built in the 14th century replacing the Count's castle.
City Hall of Haarlem
City Hall of Haarlem, detail from 1460 painting by the Master of Bellaert.
This 1750 "historic" engraving of an uprising in 1492 shows the tower which was torn down in 1672, the old stairs that were redesigned in 1730, and the balcony in front of the "Vierschaar" which was torn down in 1855.
This painting by Gerrit Adriaensz Berckheyde in 1671 shows the 17th-century situation that the 18th century engraving was based on.
