Haarlem is one of the easiest Dutch cities to navigate with a dog: the Connexxion buses that serve the city and the wider Zuid-Kennemerland region take small dogs in carriers free and larger dogs on a leash at no extra cost. NS trains from Haarlem Station to Amsterdam Centraal run every 10 minutes and take just 15 minutes; carrier-sized dogs travel free, larger dogs need an NS Dagkaart Hond (Day Pass for Dogs, €3.30) and must be on a leash. Schiphol Airport is a 20-minute direct train ride.
💡 Buy the Dagkaart Hond at any yellow NS machine at Haarlem Station before boarding; one ticket covers all NS travel that day, including the side trip to Zandvoort aan Zee.
💡 Bus 81 from Haarlem Station to Zandvoort aan Zee runs every 20 minutes and stops at the Koevlak national-park gate, easiest combined dunes-plus-beach loop.
💡 If you fly with KLM out of Schiphol, the pet-relief room in Terminal 3 land-side is the largest and quietest; ask staff for the door code at check-in.