Editing Haarlem (section)

===Middle Ages===
The oldest mention of Haarlem dates from the 10th century.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Speet|first1=Ben|title=Historische atlas van Haarlem : 1000 jaar Spaarnestad|date=2006|publisher=SUN [u.a.]|location=[Amsterdam]|isbn=9085062659|page=8|edition=2e dr.}}</ref> The name probably comes from "Haarlo-heim".<ref>page = 248, "Amsterdam: guida città", Ryan Ver Berkmoes, EDT srl(Lonely Planet)</ref> This name is composed of three elements: ''haar'', ''lo'' and ''heim''. In Old Dutch toponyms ''lo'' always refers to 'forest' and ''heim'' (''heem'', ''em'' or ''um'') to 'home' or 'house'. ''Haar'', however, has several meanings, one of them corresponding with the location of Haarlem on a sand dune: 'elevated place'. The name Haarlem or Haarloheim would therefore mean 'home on a forested dune'.

There was a stream called "De Beek", dug from the peat grounds west of the river Spaarne as a drainage canal. Over the centuries the Beek was turned into an underground canal, as the city grew larger and the space was needed for construction. Over time it began to silt up and in the 19th century it was filled in. The village had a good location: by the river Spaarne, and by a major road going south to north. By the 12th century it was a fortified town, and Haarlem became the residence of the Counts of [[County of Holland|Holland]].

In 1219 the knights of Haarlem were laurelled by [[William I of Holland|Count Willem I]], because they had conquered the Egyptian port of [[Damietta]] (or Damiate in Dutch, present-day [[Damietta|Dimyat]]) in the fifth [[crusade]]. Haarlem received the right to bear the Count's sword and cross in its [[coat of arms]]. On 23 November 1245 [[William II, Count of Holland|Count Willem II]] granted Haarlem [[City rights in the Netherlands|city rights]]. This implied a number of privileges, among which the right for the sheriff and magistrates <!--translation of Schout en Schepenen --> to administer justice, instead of the Count. This allowed for a quicker and more efficient judiciary system, more suited to the needs of the growing city.

After a siege from the surrounding area of [[Kennemerland]] in 1270 a defensive wall was built around the city. Most likely this was an earthen wall with wooden gates. Originally the city started out between Spaarne, Oudegracht, Ridderstraat, Bakenessergracht and Nassaustraat. In the 14th century the city expanded, and the Burgwalbuurt, Bakenes and the area around the Oudegracht became part of the city. The old defenses proved not to be sufficiently strong for the expanded city, and at the end of the 14th century a 16½-metre high wall was built, complete with a 15-metre wide canal circling the city. In 1304 the [[Flemings|Flemish]] threatened the city, but they were defeated by [[Witte van Haemstede]] at [[Manpad]].

[[File:Haarlem city hall.JPG|upright=1.2|thumb|[[City Hall (Haarlem)|The City Hall]] on the {{lang|nl|[[Grote Markt (Haarlem)|Grote Markt]]|italic=no}}, built in the 14th century, replacing the Count's castle after it partially burnt down. The remains were given to the city.]]

All the city's buildings were made of wood, and fire was a great risk. In 1328 nearly the whole city burnt down. The [[Sint-Bavokerk]] was severely damaged, and rebuilding it would take more than 150 years. Again on 12 June 1347 there was a fire in the city. A third large fire, in 1351, destroyed many buildings including the Count's castle and the city hall. The Count did not need a castle in Haarlem because [[Ridderzaal|his castle]] in [[The Hague]] (Den Haag) had taken over all functions. 

The count donated the ground to the city and later a [[City Hall (Haarlem)|new city hall]] was built there. The shape of the old city was square—this was inspired by the shape of ancient Jerusalem. After every fire the city was rebuilt quickly, an indication of the wealth of the city in those years. The [[Black Death]] came to the city in 1381. According to an estimate by a priest from [[Leiden]] the disease killed 5,000 people, about half the population at that time.

In the 14th century, Haarlem was a major city. It was the second largest city in historical Holland after [[Dordrecht]] and before [[Delft]], Leiden, Amsterdam, [[Gouda, South Holland|Gouda]] and [[Rotterdam]]. In 1429 the city gained the right to collect tolls, including ships passing the city on the Spaarne river. At the end of the [[Middle Ages]], Haarlem was a flourishing city with a large textile industry, shipyards and beer breweries. Around 1428, the city was put under siege by the army of [[Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut]]. Haarlem had taken side with the Cods in the [[Hook and Cod wars]] and thus against Jacoba of Bavaria. The entire [[Haarlemmerhout]] wood was burnt down by the enemy.