General Museum Information

   The home of Corrie ten Boom is now a museum!  It is perfectly situated in the center of the beautiful old city of Haarlem, Holland.  (Haarlem is a 15 minute train ride west of Amsterdam.)  Much of the house has been refurbished to appear as it did in the 1940's.  Visitors can see the actual "hiding place,"  which is a small area behind a false wall in Corrie's bedroom.  This is where Jews and others were safely hidden from the Nazis.  The museum also contains a book shop.  The Corrie ten Boom House is located at 19 Barteljorisstraat, Haarlem.

Museum Hours

     The Corrie ten Boom House is open on the following schedule:

• from April 1 through October 31
  Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM (10:00) with the last tour beginning at 3:30 PM (15:30)

• from November 1 through March 31
  Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM (11:00) with the last tour beginning at 2:30 PM (14:30)

• The museum is closed Sundays, Mondays, and public holidays.

Admittance

     Admittance to the museum is free.  Donations are appreciated.  Groups of up to 20 people can tour the museum by special arrangement (see "Tours for Groups" below).

Tours

     Visitors are given guided tours through the Ten Boom home.  Tours are led by knowledgeable guides who are volunteers.  Tours are about one hour in length.  Tours are usually available in English and Nederlands. 

      Guides share the inspiring stories of this family as visitors are led through the house. The house has been restored and has many rare family photographs, mementos and items from the war years.

     The history of the Ten Boom family is a testimony of their love and loyalty toward the Jewish people. This home is once again an "open house," just as it was when the Ten Booms lived in it.  The museum is a living memorial to this  family who lived as Christians by grace and obedience to God.  It is hoped that many visitors will find inspiration in the example of the Ten Boom family. This old house carries an important message for today!

Schedule of Tours

     This is how you find the time of the next tour when you arrive at the Corrie ten Boom House:  There is an alley (a small street) alongside the Ten Boom House.  Walk past the watch shop on this narrow street and you will find the family door to the Ten Boom home.  A sign on this green door gives the time of the next tour.  Visitors gather in the side street and are invited into the house by a guide at the appropriate time for the tour.  Visitors are asked not to wait in the watch shop unless they are interested in purchasing fine watches or jewelry.

Tours for Groups

     Groups of up to 20 persons who desire to visit the museum should telephone (0031 (0)23 5310 823), e-mail (info@corrietenboom.com), or fax (0031 (0)23 5268 481) to receive a reservation.  An entry fee of 2,50 Euros per person is requested for group tours.

Ten Boom Horlogerie (Watch Shop) in the Corrie ten Boom Museum

     In keeping with the tradition of this house, the Ten Boom Horlogerie (Watch Shop) is open for business. The shop has been updated, and includes the sale of fine watches and jewelry. Some watches carry the The Ten Boom name.

Directions to Corrie ten Boom Museum

     Haarlem Central Station can be easily reached by train or bus.  There is also a parking garage for cars one block from the station.   Directions from the station to the museum are very simple to follow.  There are markers on many street corners pointing the direction toward Haarlem's tourist sites.   Follow the signs for "C. ten Boomhuis."

DIRECTIONS FROM HAARLEM CENTRAL STATION (Train and Bus Station)

     It is a 15 minute walk from Central Station to the Corrie ten Boom Museum.  The street on the west side of Central Station is Kruisweg.  The VVV (Tourist Office) is also located on the Kruisweg side of the station.  When you are facing Kruisweg with the station behind you, turn left and walk up Kruisweg.  This is toward Haarlem's Grote Markt (Market Square).  Kruisweg changes names to Kruisstraat and then to Barteljorisstraat, but it is all the same street.  The museum is located on the left side, at 19 Barteljorisstraat.  The museum is one block before you reach the market square.  The street in front of the museum is pedestrians only. 

     When you are standing in front of the Ten Boom Museum and watch shop, this is how to find the time of the next tour:  There is an alley (a small street) alongside the Corrie ten Boom House.  Walk past the watch shop on this narrow street and you will find the family door to the Ten Boom home.  A sign on this green door gives the time of the next tour.  Visitors gather in the side street, and are invited into the house by a guide at the appropriate time for the tour.  Visitors are asked not to wait in the watch shop unless they are interested in purchasing fine watches or jewelry.

     If you have to wait awhile for the next tour, continue on Barteljorisstraat one block to the Grote Markt (Market Square).  There you can tour beautiful St. Bavo Church, and there are many restaurants including a McDonald's.

DIRECTIONS FROM AIRPORT  (International flights to Amsterdam fly into Schiphol Airport.)

     Schiphol Airport has a train station within it.  It is approximately a 30 minute train ride to Haarlem via Amsterdam.  One change of trains is required. Destination is Haarlem Central Station.  Ask for specific directions at the train ticket counter.

DIRECTIONS BY CAR

    Haarlem can be reached from Amsterdam off of the N5/A5 autoroute.   From the south (The Hague or Rotterdam) via A4, take the Haarlem turnoff at N201 or by take the A5 going west.  Once in the Haarlem area, follow the signs to the VVV (Tourist Office).  The VVV is located on the Kruisweg side of Central Station (train and bus station). There is a parking garage one block south of the station  on Lange Herenstraat.  There are three other parking garages in Haarlem, all within walking distance of the museum.  Street parking is not advised.

What else to see in Haarlem

     St. Bavo Church is located one block from the Corrie ten Boom Museum on Haarlem's Grote Markt (Market Square).  St. Bavo is the beautiful Dutch Reformed Church the Ten Boom family often attended.  You may remember the stories Corrie tells about playing in this church as a child.  You can also see and hear St. Bavo's famous organ.  It has been played by Mozart and Handel.

     There are two well-known art museums in Haarlem:  Frans Hals Museum and Teylers Museum.  The Town Hall and the Fish Hall on the Grote Markt exemplify the character of Haarlem.  Each of these sites are within easy walking distance of the Corrie ten Boom House.  More information may be obtained at the VVV (Tourist Office) which is located on the Kruisweg side of Haarlem's Central Station (train and bus station). 

     Flowers--The area around Haarlem is especially beautiful in the spring.  If your visit occurs between March and May, you will be able to view the gorgeous fields of tulips and other bulb flowers.  World-famous Keukenhof flower gardens is open from March 30 through mid-May.  Keukenhof is a short bus ride from Haarlem.

Where to stay in Haarlem

    Hotel information for Haarlem is provided at http://www.hotelinformation.com