Editing Haarlem (section)

====Infrastructure====
[[File:La plaza del mercado de Haarlem durante una fiesta, por Cornelis Beelt.jpg|thumb|Grote Markt of Haarlem, c. 1670–90, by [[Cornelis Beelt]]]]

In 1632 a tow canal between Haarlem and Amsterdam, the [[Haarlemmertrekvaart]] was opened, the first tow canal in the country. The empty areas in the city that were a result of the fire of 1576 were filled with new houses and buildings. Even outside the city wall buildings were constructed—in 1643 about 400 houses were counted outside the wall. 

Having buildings outside the city walls was not a desirable situation to the city administration. Not only because these buildings would be vulnerable in case of an attack on the city, but there was also less control over taxes and city regulations outside the walls. Therefore, a major project was initiated in 1671: expanding the city northwards. 

Two new canals were dug, and a new defensive wall was constructed (the current Staten en Prinsenbolwerk). Two old city gates, the Janspoort and Kruispoort, were demolished. The idea that a city had to be square-shaped was abandoned.