Near Amsterdam this small town (160.000 inh) has a historical city centre worth a visit or stay for a few days.
Close to Schiphol (Amsterdam international airport) and wel connected by road and railway to the rest of the Netherlands, its easy to get anywhere from this town.
Nearby Zandvoort with it's (North Sea) beaches and Circuit Park ...

Haarlem was our favorite city in The Netherlands. Stayed in Amsterdam, which is a great metro city, but Haarlem is smaller, less tourists, and less of a chance of wandering into an undesirable area. And there are far less bikes. But really, it's beauty and it's history is going to draw us back.

Tea house was a great smoke spot. Very ...

This town (200,000) is like a minature Amsterdam without the negatives. I like it because from anywhere you can be out in the countryside in 10 bicycle minutes. Lots of shops, restuarants and everything you could possibly want. Beach is only 6 miles. Amsterdam is like a 1/2 hour by train. Real Dutch atmosphere.