HAAR'LEM, the chief t. of a district of the same name in the province of north Holland, is a clean. well-built city, lying on the shores of the Spaarn, 12 m. w. of Amsterdam, and intersected, like most Dutch towns, with canals and avenues of trees. Pop. '75, 33,364. Haarlem is the seat of government for the province, and the see or a Catholic bishop. Among its 13 churches, time principal is that known as the great of St. Bavo's Kerk, which was built in the 15th c., is one of the largest in Holland. and specially noted for its lofty tower and famous organ. constructed by Muller of Amster dam, which, till recently. was the largest of its kind, having 5,000 pipes, 60 stops, and 4 rows of keys. Before the church stands a statue of Laurens Coster (q.v.), to whom his countrymen ascribe the invention of printing. Among the buildings worthy of note are the town-hall. with its tine carvings, formerly the residence of the counts of Holland; the palace of the prison; and the Teyler institution, richly endowed to defend the Christian religion and promote science and the fine arts. It has also a handsome building occupied by 24 poor old women, and has numerous scientific and antiquarian collections. Haarlem has a good gymnasium, numerous academical, scien
tific, and benevolent institutions, and also a national normal school for training teachers. Although Haarlem is no longer celebrated, as in former times, for its flour ishing trade, it still possesses extensive refineries of salt, tanneries, foundries for type, various manufactories of silk, linen, and thread, and an extensive trade in flowers, sending its tulips, hyacinths, and other bulbs, to the value, in 1874, of £37,500, to every part of Europe. IIaarlem was a flourishing town as early as the 12th c., when it took an important part in the wars between the Hollanders and West Frisians. At the close of the 15th c., it lost its privileges, and suffered severely during the revolt of the peas antry; and during the war of independence, it underwent a seven months' siege in 1579 -73, which is unparalleled in the annals of history for the heroism evinced by the citi zens. The wood of Haarlem is a great ornament to the city, and a favorite place for recreation. Haarlem has railway communication with Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and the Nieuwe Diep.