Bridge over te river, Haarlem, Guida per visitatori e cosa fare nei dintorni

The Gravestenenbrug is a small pedestrian drawbridge over the Spaarne in the centre of Haarlem, the Netherlands. The current bridge dates from 1950 and replaces a crossing that had stood on this spot for centuries. Beside it is a tiny bridge keeper's house, which makes this corner of the river one of the most photogenic little stops in the old town.

The story behind it

The Gravestenenbrug is a drawbridge built for people on foot. The bridge you cross today was put up in 1950, taking the place of an earlier bridge that, by the creators' reckoning, had served the site for somewhere between 600 and 800 years. Crossings like this were the lifeblood of a town built along a river, linking the two banks while still letting boats pass.

Next to the bridge stands a bridge keeper's house from the 1950s. Once it was no longer needed for its original purpose, the little building found a second life as a museum known as the smallest museum in the Netherlands. The name is a joke with a point: a short walk away is the Teylers Museum, widely described as the oldest museum in the country, and the tiny house makes a witty contrast.

What to look for

• The bridge keeper's house beside the bridge is very small, and its size is the whole charm, so stop and take in its proportions.
• The bridge itself is a drawbridge, so look at how it is built to lift and let boats move along the Spaarne.
• From the middle of the bridge you get a pleasant view along the river and the old buildings lining it.
• Think about the contrast with the Teylers Museum nearby, the old and grand against the small and playful.

Tips for your visit

• You only need about ten minutes at the bridge, but it works best as part of a slow walk along the Spaarne.
• Morning or early evening is usually calmer and gives softer light for photos of the water and the keeper's house.
• The Teylers Museum is close by, so you can pair the two. Check current opening hours before you plan a visit inside.
• The bridge is open to walkers all the time you are there, but the keeper's house is best admired from outside unless you see a sign saying otherwise.

See it on a quest

You can reach the Gravestenenbrug on foot as one stop of The Battle for Haarlem: Defend the City, a self-guided walk with a Haarlem history theme. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you, so you look closely at the bridge and its surroundings instead of just walking over it. Start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join. One ticket covers the whole group.