a town of the United Provinces, in Holland, situated on the river Sparren, in E. Long. 4. 29. N. Lat. 52. 22. It is a large and populous city, and stands near a lake of the same name, with which it has a communication, as well as with Amsterdam and Leyden, by means of several canals. Schemes have been often formed for draining of this lake, but were never put in execution. To the south of the town lies a wood, cut into delightful walks and vistas. The town is famous for the siege which it held out against the Spaniards for ten months in 1573; the townsmen, before they capitulated, being reduced to eat the vilest animals, and even leather and grass. The inhabitants corresponded with the prince of Orange for a considerable time by means of carrier-pigeons. Harlem, as is well known, claims the invention of printing; and in fact, the first essays of the art are indisputably to be attributed to Laurentius, a magistrate of that city. [See LAURENTIUS, and (History of) PRINTING.] Before the Reformation, Harlem was a bishop's see; the inhabitants amount to 40,000. An academy of sciences was founded here in 1752. Vast quantities of linen and thread are bleached here; the waters of the lake having a peculiar quality, which renders them very fit for that purpose.—A sort of phrensy with regard to flowers, particularly tulips, once prevailed here, in consequence of which they were sold at extravagant prices. The owner of a hyacinth which Dutens saw in flower in May 1771, refused 10,000 florins for it.