Hoofdwacht, Haarlem

The main station Haarlem ( Dutch: Hoofdwacht ) is a building from the 13th century in the northern Dutch city of Haarlem, on the Grote Markt 17, used to be a town hall, then as a residential and commercial building and since 1755 as the headquarters of the urban militia. As Rijksmonument it is since 1969 under monument protection.

History

The oldest parts of the building date from the middle of the thirteenth century; it is considered one of the oldest stone houses in Haarlem. After the town hall was in 1350 moved to the present building, it served as a residential and commercial building; inter alia, the lower floors and basement were used as a beer store and print shop. The scholar Dirck Volkertszoon Coornhert also lived here for a while.

In 1755 the city acquired the building and occupied it with the officers of the militia, later superseded by other military or police facilities. In 1919 the Historical Society of Haerlem, the Haarlem Historical Society, the building as a club seat.

On the occasion of the 750th anniversary of the city the Hoofdwacht 1994/1995 has been restored. In addition to the headquarters of the association it is today ( 2013) as a museum.