A Day Trip to Haarlem

By Savannah Grace on January 30, 2015 • ( 1 Comment )

I really enjoyed a day in Haarlem last week with Mom and fellow writer Jessica. I’ve been to Haarlem numerous times, but never as a tourist. I was happy to tag along with Jessica and her friends to explore a bit more of this historical, beautiful city.

Our first stop was the Jopen Kerk Brewery which has this authentic entrance that really makes you feel you’re stepping back in time.

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The Brewery is a great place to enjoy a night with friends in a warm, atmosphere. Having previously been a church in the bustling centre of Haarlem, the Jopen Kerk has been converted into a cafe, restaurant and laid-back brewery. A variety of beers are made on location, so it can’t get much fresher!

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We had a wonderful Surinamese dinner at one of the restaurants from Jessica’s upcoming book. After that we visited House of Bols, the worlds oldest spirit brand, which started inAmsterdam in 1575!!!! Such amazing history in Holland, a quest of endless discovery! We got to smell their 36 different Bols liqueur flavours in a rainbow lit room.

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By the end I was already feeling tipsy! Not only do you get to learn the history of Bols, the entry ticket comes with two shots and a cocktail of your choice are included. The bar is in a mirror box room and the bar tenders are very fun and animated. I met a nice group of English girls who let me try all of their drinks, and I HAD to order the more than dangerously delicious kiwi cocktail. The bar tender surprised me with yoghurt (it sounds weird but was surprisingly good) and flavoured shots.
I would definitely recommend this distillery if you are interested in that kind of thing and have the extra time while in Holland.