Portraits by Windmill De Adriaan in Haarlem

By Aleksandria Rudenko | Published 28 October 2026

Woman in a white blazer and wide trousers by a tower of red geraniums, windmill De Adriaan and an old barge behind her in Haarlem

Lauren was traveling through Europe for the summer, and Haarlem was the stop she wanted to remember. So on the first of July, we spent an hour on portraits by windmill De Adriaan and along the Spaarne.

She had come from the United States and wanted the town in her photos, plus a few close portraits to keep. Haarlem has a river, a windmill and quiet corners within a short walk of each other. That mix is exactly why I love my photoshoots in Haarlem.

Where: The Spaarne and windmill De Adriaan, Haarlem
When: The first of July, around midday
Session: Portrait Photoshoot
Light: High summer sun, then dappled shade under the trees

From the Spaarne to De Adriaan

We met on the bank of the Spaarne, across from a row of modern houses with tall, pointed gables. Lauren wore a white blazer, a white T-shirt and wide light trousers, a calm outfit next to a busy backdrop. A few minutes later, we walked along the river until windmill De Adriaan rose behind an old barge.

Smiling woman in a white blazer with her arms crossed on the Spaarne, a short walk from windmill De Adriaan, gabled houses behind — The Spaarne in Haarlem, 12:12

Full-length portrait of a woman in white on the quay of the Spaarne, sailing boats and new gabled houses across the water

Woman in white walking along the path by an old barge, windmill De Adriaan rising behind a young tree on the Spaarne

Summer Portraits by the Windmill

De Adriaan stands tall on the Spaarne, dark against the summer sky, with a white stage around its middle. Beside the path, a tower of red geraniums stood in full bloom, so I placed Lauren between the flowers and the windmill. That frame opens this story.

Later, she sat down on a low concrete edge in the grass, her blazer beside her, and told me about her trip while I photographed. Those relaxed portraits by windmill De Adriaan feel the most like her.

Woman in a white T-shirt sitting on a low concrete edge in the grass, her blazer beside her and De Adriaan behind the barge

Close frame of her sitting with her chin on her hand and looking away, the red and black barge and De Adriaan behind

Woman in white smiling on a low ledge among wild grasses, windmill De Adriaan and the barge's wooden wheelhouse behind her — Windmill De Adriaan, 12:26

Into the Shade of the Trees

At midday, the sun stood high and left hard shadows on the path. Under a group of trees nearby, the light broke into small patches instead, which gave the close portraits a softer look. Her smile in those frames is the one she later sent to her family back home.

Close portrait of a smiling woman in a white T-shirt with her arms crossed, deep green leaves around her in the shade

Woman in a white T-shirt smiling and looking to the side, gold hoop earrings and a watch, dark green trees soft behind her

Stepping back, I kept the dappled light in the frame, first with her T-shirt and then with the blazer back on.

Full-length frame of her in dappled shade under the trees, one hand in her hair, wide light trousers and sandals

Woman in a white blazer under a leafy tree, hands in her pockets, the river and houses glimpsed through the green behind

Two Walls and a Last Smile

We ended with two walls a few minutes apart. The first was made of dark wooden boards, with one slice of sun across the pavement, and the white of her outfit glowed against it. The second was pale brick with a playful pattern of darker stones.