An attractive, compact city which presents the wheelchair user with some challenges
3.5
3.5
Date of visit: June 2018
I am a carer or friend of a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Good
There are so many interesting buildings, historic courtyards, museums and churches that you will want to explore, but it isn’t always straightforward. The city centre has been helpfully pedestrianised, though delivery vehicles are allowed in during the morning and streets get blocked. Cyclists and scooter and motorbike riders roam freely in this area and can be a hazard to the unwary. There are lots of cobbles and such dropdowns as there are aren’t always easy to navigate. The pavements in the historic centre are often completely blocked by pavement cafés and parked bikes, forcing the wheelchair user into the path of oncoming and often uncompromising cyclists.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
See comments above. Most museums and churches are wheelchair accessible as are many shops, bars and restaurants.
Parking & Transport
0We didn’t use any parking. The buses are wheelchair accessible, though the compact nature of the historic centre meant that we didn’t need to use them.
Accessible Toilets
Poor
As in most Dutch cities, there are few public loos and even fewer wheelchair-accessible loos. In Haarlem you depend on finding restaurants or museums which have them. The train station has an accessible loo but it’s ten minutes’ wheel from the centre and we didn’t sample it.
Staff
Good
The locals are very friendly and most speak English fluently. Five stars for helpful pedestrians, waiters and hotel staff. The cyclists , on the other hand, can be a real menace,
Additional Information
Despite all the abovementioned drawbacks, Haarlem is a lovely city and well worth a visit.
