Is Haarlem safe for solo female travelers?

Haarlem is widely known as a safe destination for solo female travelers. The city maintains a low crime rate and locals are typically helpful and friendly. Like any destination, it's always important to keep your personal safety in check by avoiding poorly lit or desolate areas at night and maintaining alertness in crowded places to avoid pickpockets. The Dutch police are also very helpful and reliable. Public transportation is safe and efficient and most locals have a good command of English.

Safety rating

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How safe is Haarlem for female travelers?

Solo travel

Stayed at I am Local Hostel.. Super beautiful accommodations, made friends with Co-ed dormmates.. we went to see Barbie in the refurbished Panopticon former prison! Solo day: rented bike from hostel and rode through the National Park dunes to the beach-absolute bliss and the water temperature was incredible! Woodstock on the beach is an amazing place to hang out and the wildlife is incredible!

Posted: December 30, 2024Experienced: July, 2023
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Cherith

Cherith

Canada

Solo travel

I want to give a shout out to Haarlem, Netherlands. For someone who has seen Amsterdam but gets tired of the hustle of the big city, nearby Haarlem can’t be beat. My son relocated there two years ago and I’ve had the opportunity to visit 4 times already. It’s a mini Amsterdam but much more laid back. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a tourist shop there. It’s safe, easy to get to from Schiphol (the #300 bus has its own road!). It’s beautiful. Safe, and very walkable. I just got back home less than 2 weeks ago and looking forward to another visit in 3 months. They’ve got a “Centrum” that is chock full of restaurants with outdoor dining. An amazing place to people watch in all seasons as the patios are heated and they supply blankets. I can’t say enough about Haarlem,

Posted: July 2, 2024Experienced: June, 2024
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How safe is Haarlem for women?

Local safety index

4.4 /5

Based on 11 local experiences

Local crime index

1.2 /5

Based on 11 local experiences

Haarlem is pretty safe. There are some places you can better avoid in the dark, but overall there is not a lot of danger. There are a lot of fairly young children on fatbikes who think they are all that.. But in the end most of them are harmless.

Posted: October 11, 2025
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It feels like a small village with lots of space, beach and nature just around the corner. I walk and ride my bike at night without ever experiencing anything but being alone and able to enjoy going home. I even ride my bike from the beach after dark and that is like a 40minutes bike ride. Also you can wear whatever you want and feel save.

Posted: August 31, 2025
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Yara

Yara

Haarlem is a mid size city (Dutch standards) and the capital of the provence. Most people are pretty well off / at least above the national average. Predominantly white. Pretty much no (major) crime - at least that I’m aware off..

Posted: July 25, 2025
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Mijntje

Mijntje

Haarlem is a great place. There is museums, great shopping and plenty of great restaurants and bars. Especially in the center there is lots of great places to go. I let my 16 and 18 years old daughter go out in Haarlem, it is safe. Ofcoarse you still have pay attention.

Posted: July 14, 2025
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Laura

Laura

I'm not sure, I just arrived here but I think it's pretty safe, especially compared to Brasil. Maybe because I'm from abroad I do care about being disrespected in that sense, and being a woman you're never too cautious

Posted: April 8, 2025
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Safety in Netherlands