Coat of arms of Haarlem

Above the shield is the Imperial Crown of Austria under barren branches holding two Damiate bells, all held up by two golden lions standing on the motto of Haarlem.

Two bells were given to the city of Haarlem's St. Bavochurch to commemorate the heroic cutting of the harbour chain during the Siege of Damietta (1218) with a "saw ship", a legendary ship equipped with an iron saw fastened along the bow and front keel.

According to local legend, the original shield of Haarlem contained simply the four stars on a red background.

During these wars Haarlem, like the cities of Dordrecht, Leiden, Amsterdam, and The Hague, loaned large amounts of money to Maximilian I.

The emperor granted Haarlem and the other cities the right to use his personal imperial crown in their coat of arms, out of gratitude for these loans.