HAERLEM, or HARLEM, a city of Holland, province of North Holland, on the Spaaren, 11 miles W. of Amsterdam, with which, as well as with Leyden, it communicates by railway. Haarlem was formerly a place of some strength. In 1572 it held out against a Spanish force, under the son of the Duke of Alva, for seven months, when terms of capitulation were offered to the besieged, and accepted. The Spaniards, however, had no sooner obtained possession of the town than they practised every species of cruelty upon the inhabitants, 2000 of whom were either put to the sword or tied in pairs and thrown into the lake. It was retaken by the Dutch in 1577. Part of the old fortifications still exist, including a venerable gateway on the high-road to Amsterdam. The town itself is well built and clean, but dull; and is traversed by numerous canals, which also connect it with all the principal towns of Holland. It has a fine market-place, round which are some of the finest buildings in the city. There are in all 15 churches belonging to various sects, including the cathedral of St Bavon, which is the largest church in Holland, and is celebrated for its organ, one of the largest and finest in the world. This instrument was built by C. Müller of Amsterdam in 1738, and has 8000 pipes and 60 stops. The Stadhuys and the Prinzenhof are among the finest edifices in the town. The latter has been converted into a museum of arts, antiquities, &c. In the market-place is a statue to Laurens Janszoon Koster, whom the Dutch maintain to have been the inventor of printing. Haarlem is the headquarters of the Dutch establishment of national education, and the seat of the principal training seminary for schoolmasters in that kingdom. It has numerous literary and scientific institutions, including a botanic garden and public library. There are also extensive cotton factories and bleaching works, as well as manufactures of linen, silk, velvet, ribands, thread, &c. Excellent walks occupy the site of the ancient ramparts, and the neighbourhood is adorned with gardens and villas. In the S. outskirts of the town are famous nursery-gardens (Bloemen Tuin), where hyacinths, tulips, and other flowers, which constitute an important branch of trade in Haarlem, are reared. Pop. (1850) 25,778.