Grote Houtstraat
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Grote Houtstraat is a shopping street in Haarlem that connects the Grote Markt to the Houtplein in the direction of the Haarlemmerhout woods.
The street forms one of two old parallel routes running through the city on either side of the Grote Markt linking Heemstede to Schoten, and is one of the oldest streets in Haarlem.
The Grote Houtstraat in Haarlem was originally just called the "Houtstraat" (Wood street) as it was the major road leading from the Grote Markt to the woods called the Haarlemmerhout.[1] Until the 15th century it ended at what is today the Gedempte Oude Gracht, at that time the southern canal of the city.[1] In the 15th century the town expanded southwards and the street was extended to the Gasthuissingel and a large town gate was placed near the bridge, which has since been torn down.
