Hofje van Bakenes, Medieval almshouse courtyard in central Haarlem, Netherlands
Hofje van Bakenes is a residential courtyard made up of small brick houses arranged around a central garden. Through the green entrance door on Wijde Appelaarsteeg, visitors find a quiet enclosed space with row houses facing inward toward planted areas.
Founded in 1395 by wealthy city official Dirck van Bakenes, this was the Netherlands' first hofje institution of its kind. This establishment inspired similar charitable housing projects that spread across the Dutch regions in following centuries.
The courtyard reflects a Dutch tradition of providing shelter for elderly women through donations from wealthy merchants and citizens. The layout shows how residents lived together as a community around the shared garden space.
The courtyard is open to visitors during daytime hours on weekdays and Saturdays, allowing you to walk freely through the space. Remember that residents still live here, so please move quietly and respectfully.
Above the entrance sits a stone inscription containing a mathematical puzzle that hints at the exact number of women who lived here. This hidden riddle remains visible today and offers visitors a chance to solve it themselves.
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