Haarlem is the center of a flower-growing district and the export point for flower bulbs.Many people commute to nearby Amsterdam.The first recordings of the name 'Haarlem' date from the tenth century. Located on a much used north/south connection route, the city became the seat of the Counts of Holland. In 1245 the city was granted city rights by Count William II of Holland. Due to heroic acts of knights from Haarlem during the fifth crusade and their contributions in the siege of Damiate in 1217, Haarlem was granted permission to show a cross and a sword in the city's coat of arms. http://wikitravel.org/en/Haarlem