Kuyl's Fundatie, Historic almshouse in Kralingen, Netherlands.
Kuyl's Fundatie is an almshouse in Rotterdam consisting of sixteen small houses arranged around a central courtyard, with an administrative building facing 's-Gravenweg. The layout follows a traditional Dutch hofje design that combines private living quarters with shared outdoor spaces.
The foundation was established in 1814 by Anthonetta Kuyl to provide housing for sixteen impoverished single women and widows. The original building was moved from Schiekade to its present location in 1972 and carefully reconstructed there.
The complex serves as a women-only residence where residents shape daily life through shared community routines and common spaces. This arrangement reflects longstanding Dutch approaches to providing safe, organized housing for those in need.
The grounds are accessible for viewing from outside, with the central courtyard and surrounding buildings clearly showing the traditional hofje layout. Visitors should move respectfully through the private grounds and remember this is an active residential community of elderly residents.
The relocation and reconstruction in 1972 was an engineering feat, as the entire original structure was moved and meticulously rebuilt from the ground up. This allowed the hofje to remain complete and fully operational at its new location.
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