Wandelnetwerk Noord-Holland

The Basilica of Saint Bavo is located on the Leidsevaart canal, just outside the centre of Haarlem. The basilica is the largest church in the Netherlands after the St. John's Cathedral in Den Bosch. The nickname of this not very old episcopal church (1930) speaks for itself: Koepelkathedraal (Domed Cathedral). This spot on the old canal is the starting point for four walks.

• The From Bavo to Bavo Walk (red) connects the two ecclesiastical icons in Haarlem’s cityscape. The circular walk follows narrow streets in the Vijfhoek neighbourhood and the Leidsebuurt to the Saint Bavo on the Grote Markt. Go to visithaarlem.com for a brochure of this attractive city route.
• The Melkbrug Route (black) in Haarlem is a round trip to the swing bridge over the Spaarne. Along the way you walk through the stylish Frederikspark and over the charming Kleine Houtstraat.
• The Haarlemmerhout Walk (green) travels via the Koninginnebuurt to the oldest urban forest in the Netherlands. The busy Fonteinlaan cuts the forest in half. The Kleine Hout with the Pavilion Welgelegen and the deer park is more of an urban park. In the Grote Hout, the walk feels like a real stroll though a forest.
• The long Duinvliet Circuit (orange) leads you from Haarlem to Aerdenhout via the Grote Hout. The Staatsbosbeheer’s (Forestry Service) Landgoed Duinvliet estate lends the route its name. From the former country estate with its huge trees, it continues over the Koepad to the Ramplaankwartier neighbourhood and along the Brouwersvaart canal back to the Leidsebuurt.