The grand Cathedral of Saint Bavo, designed by architect Joseph Cuypers and built between the 1890s and 1930s, displays an unusual mix of styles. Numerous towers topped with conical roofs give the church the look of a fairytale castle and lead your eye to the green copper dome. Look up to see the architectural flourishes, from neo-Gothic gargoyles to Romanesque arches.
The towers of this Roman Catholic Church were funded by the congregation through a cathedral-shaped moneybox which featured one slot for men and another for women. Cuypers built each gender its own tower the women’s features an art deco clock.
Visit the sacristy, which is now home to a collection of artifacts that survived from the years Catholicism was in disfavor during the Protestant Reformation. Look for robes from the 1500s, chalices and altar books. The cathedral itself is also a repository of artworks, sculptures and tapestries by important artists.
The church is also known for its choir, which tours around the Netherlands and abroad. The diocese runs a special choir school in Haarlem with a heavily music-focused curriculum, a tradition that has been around since the Middle Ages. Search for not one, but four organs. If you are visiting on a weekend you might get to hear them. Check the cathedral’s website for music dates and times.
When you get hungry, visit the bakery around the corner that has been in operation since 1924. Have delicious traditional apple pie and gingerbread.
The Cathedral of Saint Bavo is located a short distance from the centre of town on Leidsevaart, overlooking a canal. Don’t confuse this Catholic church with the St. Bavo Protestant Church in Haarlem’s main square, the Grote Markt. The Catholic church is closed to visitors during winter, but it is still a truly stunning sight from the outside in the evening when lit from below.
