Amsterdam
The Begijnhof is a medieval courtyard in the centre of Amsterdam, where beguines lived for centuries. It is one of the oldest and quietest places in the city.
The beguines
The beguines were women who lived together and prayed every day. Unlike nuns, they had a certain freedom. They were already living here in 1346. In 1389 the place is called a courtyard for the first time.
The Begijnhof is the only courtyard in the city that dates from the Middle Ages. That is why it lies inside the Singel, the innermost canal.
What to look at
The courtyard is almost a metre lower than the nearby streets. Around the lawn stand 47 tall, narrow houses, most with fronts from the 1600s and 1700s. Behind those fronts, though, many are older.
At number 34 is the Houten Huys, the Wooden House, with fronts made entirely of wood. It is among the oldest houses in Amsterdam. The old gate on the opposite side, from 1574, is the original entrance.
A place where people live
The last beguine died in 1971. Women still live in the courtyard today. You can visit, but with respect and in silence: it is their home.
