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Photo: Jane023, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Stadsbibliotheek Haarlem is a collective name for all public libraries in the Haarlem area of the Netherlands. The first public library of Haarlem opened in 1921 at the cloisters of the Haarlem City Hall where the academic library had been since 1821. The move to open its doors to the public with a public reading room was only possible after the previous occupant of the downstairs cloisters, the Frans Hals Museum, moved out in 1913 to its present location. As of 2009, there are 6 public libraries and 10 lending points, such as in hospitals.
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During World War II, the Ten Boom family, who lived and ran a watch shop in this house, used the top floor to hide Jews and others from the Nazis. After being discovered by the Nazis in 1944, only Corrie Ten Boom survived. She wrote several books about her experiences, which served as a basis for the museum that was opened after her death in the 1980s. It's in the centre of town and is run by volunteers. You will have to join one of the guided tours; starting times are indicated on the door. Since it's a small building, you can't wait indoors for the next tour to start.
Meat Hall
From 1604 until the 18th century, the Meat Hall was the only place in town where it was permitted to sell fresh meat. Butchers had to pay rather steep amounts to be granted a spot in the Dutch Renaissance style building that had been designed and built for the purpose. It's now part of the Frans Hals Museum.