The official tour didn't start until 2 p.m., so I had time to cross the Spaarne River and see the last remaining Haarlem city gate from 1355 - the Amsterdamse Poort. I also went by the Molen De Adriaan windmill that our group would tour later in the day, and still made it back across the river by eleven a.m. when the Frans Hals Museum opened.  I don't usually photograph art, unless it's new to me and I want to learn more about it later - the 'Portrait of a Jester' just made me smile.

 

I sampled freits (french fries) for a quick snack before spending the last of today's free time at the Grote Kerk church.  While there, I was treated to a rehearsal for that evening's organ concert.  I was very glad to have arrived a day before the tour started so that I was able to explore Haarlem on my own this morning.

 

After the 'meet and greet' back at the hotel, our group met up with our local guide, Ruby, who wisely advised us to "look up, and look down."  She also warned us to watch out for "Die Fiets" - the bicycles - while on our walking tour which ended with a traditional rijsttafel, or rice table Indonesian dinner.