Begijnhof, Medieval courtyard in central Amsterdam, Netherlands
Begijnhof is an enclosed courtyard in Amsterdam with rows of residential houses arranged around a garden and dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. The space contains about 30 houses with brick and timber facades, two churches, and green areas in the center.
The courtyard was founded in the 14th century to house unmarried religious women who wished to live together without taking formal monastic vows. After the 16th-century Reformation, the site transformed but retained its function as a residential community for women.
The houses carry names that recall the religious community, and two churches within the courtyard show how residents practiced their faith. The carefully maintained facades and central garden still reflect the life of a closed female community today.
The site lies between Kalverstraat and Spui streets and is easily reached on foot. Most visitors explore the grounds during daytime hours, and it is best to arrive in quieter morning or late afternoon times to better experience the atmosphere.
The oldest wooden house in the city stands here at number 34, dating from 1420, and is one of only two remaining timber-fronted buildings in Amsterdam. This rare structure shows what most of the city's older houses looked like before fires prompted people to switch to stone and brick.
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