ICPR 2022 will be held in a beautiful building in a historical city: at the Philharmonie in Haarlem – the historical city that is often called ‘small Amsterdam’. 

Haarlem is only 20 minutes from Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. It has a stunning historical center with canals, churches, and 17th century town houses. It also is host to many interesting museums and it’s close to some of the best natural spots that the Netherlands has to offer along its coast. It also hosts a range of options for evening entertainment or lodging that are more quaint than bustling Amsterdam, while still being top-notch. 

So besides exciting you for three days of psychedelic science, meeting new people and generating new ideas, we want to turn the spotlight on the attractions in and around Haarlem that can make your trip extra valuable. 

Here’s a list of the things we think you should know about Haarlem. 

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What to see, do and visit in Haarlem?

Teyler’s Museum

One of the oldest museums in the Netherlands, this science museum holds an exquisite collection of 19th-century scientific instruments, fossils, art, and other pieces in the realms of Renaissance and Enlightenment-era science and art. Its collection ranges from Michelangelo’s sketches for the Sistine chapel to electrical batteries invented in the 1700s.

The dunes and beaches
Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennemerland lies between Haarlem and the North Sea, and hosts a vast set of dunes that are great to get lost in. Rent bikes to explore a wide area, or make your way to Bezoekerscentrum Kennemerduinen to go by foot. Be sure to follow the rules, while finding a quiet spot in a ‘duinpan’, a dune valley away out of sight but in view of the sea and the sun.

Frans Hals museum

The Frans Hals museum is a combination of 17th century Dutch masters residing in Haarlem – like Frans Hals himself – and a contemporary art collection of cutting-edge artists. The museum marries the Dutch golden age with the art of today.

Jopen brouwerij

This brewery is housed in a former church, and it clearly shows. The brewery started locally, but now supplies vast parts of the country. They focus on traditional recipes from Haarlem, including one from 1407.

The historical centre: St. Bavo, Grote Markt

ICPR is held in the Philharmonie, a landmark and architectural highlight all by itself. But at its doorstep is the historical center of Haarlem, with its central market square, the towering St Bavo cathedral and its narrow medieval grid system. 

Museum van de Geest | Dolhuys

You will get to peek inside the minds of artists, writers, and scientists in this former psychiatry hospital called Museum of the Mind. You’ll go on an interactive discovery into your own psyche and the minds of others. Archives include personal stories from this psychiatric ward, surprising art, and an expansive historical collection, straddling the boundaries between healthcare, art, and science. Museum of the Mind has a location focused on art in Amsterdam, and a location in Haarlem focusing on an interactive way to understand the mind better. Tickets must be purchased online in advance.

Patronaat

A staple of the alternative Dutch music scene and one larger pop music venues in the Netherlands with lots of different colored lighting and live music.