29 Jan 2009

Haarlem

Haarlem market square.

"The Grote Markt is the central market square of Haarlem, the Netherlands.

Haarlem, in the past usually Harlem in English, is a city in the Netherlands. It is also the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was one of the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic. The city is located on the river Spaarne, about 20 km west of Amsterdam and near the coastal dunes. It has been the historical center of the tulip bulb-growing district for centuries and bears the nickname 'Bloemenstad' (flower city), for this reason." – Wikipedia