First, I would like to note that while I did go to Amsterdam, I did not stay in Amsterdam. It was about half the price to stay in Haarlem, and only a short train ride to Amsterdam Centraal. I would definitely recommend this to others, since there is quite a bit to see and do in Haarlem.
My walkabout day in Haarlem was a grey day, very cloudy, so I started at the Dolhuys museum, which is a former leper colony, plague house, and insane asylum. It has been turned into a museum that not only shows its own history, but also the overall history of psychiatric care and attitudes towards mental illness. Dolhuys is a rather sobering place to visit, especially for people who, like myself, struggle with various mental illnesses. Imagine going into a depressive state or having a massive panic attack and being “treated” by being locked in a tiny stone room until you are “calm.” It’s terrifying. It is nice to see how far treatment has come, though.
After the Dolhuys, I wandered down to the Windmill de Adriaan, since I needed to see at least one windmill while I was in The Netherlands.
Then I wandered down to the Town Hall/Grote Markt area. There are some fantastic buildings in this area, as well as a variety of shops, including what has to be the greatest tea room in the world (which I sadly didn’t stop at, as I was neither hungry nor thirsty when I was near it). At the very least, they are certainly vicious, as evidenced by the sign: 
I did stop at Chco Company for hot cocoa while on my way back to the Haarlem Centraal station, though. I would like to point out that their Ginger and Lemongrass Hot Chocolate is just about the greatest thing I have ever tasted in my life. 10/10, would recommend. Now, I would have walked back to my hotel, except it looked like it was going to start raining again, and I had already been caught out in the rain in The Netherlands and wished to avoid it if possible. Or at least minimize it.