Begijnhof, Medieval inner court in Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Begijnhof is an inner courtyard in Amsterdam containing 47 townhouses arranged around a central garden, positioned about 1 meter below street level. The buildings date from different periods and create a quiet, enclosed feeling with their closely nestled arrangement.
The Begijnhof was established in 1346 as a residence for Beguines, religious women who lived independently without taking formal monastic vows. Following Amsterdam's shift to Protestantism in 1578, this compound remained under Catholic control and escaped the religious upheaval.
The name refers to the Beguines, religious women who lived here communally without becoming nuns. Today you can still see the small chapel and modest houses that reflect how this spiritual community lived.
The courtyard sits near Dam Square and opens to visitors daily from 09:30 to 18:00. Two entrances provide access: one from Spui street and another from Begijnensteeg.
Het Houten Huys, dating from 1420, is one of the last wooden-fronted houses surviving in central Amsterdam. This rare structure reveals how early Amsterdammers built their homes.
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