I may be repeating other advice or offering unnecessary info after a decision has been made because I was able to only skim all these replies, but I just wanted to say it seemed to me in my visit last April that Haarlem was a more "Dutch" feeling city than Amsterdam, which is super-international. I loved staying in Amsterdam at the Maes B&B (hosted by the famous "Ken and Vlad") -- fantastic, easy location, helpful owners, friendly guests who shared great info over breakfast. I think it would be wonderful for a single traveler. We also found that getting there from the airport and then using it as a base for visiting Haarlem, Delft, Den Hague, etc. was a snap on the train. By now you probably know that Haarlem is just about 15 minutes by train from Amsterdam and trains run all the time.... Also, our visit was in mid-April. No outdoor tulips at Keukenhof at that time; just daffodils and crocuses, but it was enjoyable. And we wore jackets but ate outdoors.

Booked Cruise tour with GCT from Apr.17-28th. Didn't realize at time of booking that the Holidays (Good Friday-Easter Sun.)were in mid tour. Anyone been there on the Holidays? Will stores be opened etc.

Not sure exactly where you'll be, but we were in Bruges and Amsterdam over Easter weekend and didn't notice any unusual closings. Same as any other weekend, I think.

We liked the Hotel Residence le Coin in Amsterdam. Great location, very clean, somewhat newly renovated from 6 or 7 'row homes'. Each room has a kitchenette which might appeal to a solo traveler.