Point of interest
Begijnhof
in Amsterdam, Netherlands
A hidden medieval courtyard with Amsterdam's oldest wooden house — a quiet oasis in the centre.
Where it is
The Begijnhof is a tranquil courtyard in the medieval city centre near the Spui, entered from the Gedempte Begijnensloot in the extension of the Begijnensteeg.
Address: Begijnhof, 1012 WT Amsterdam
What it is
Behind the building façades opens a quiet garden lined with historic houses, including the Houten Huys (no. 34, c. 1528), one of the city's oldest wooden houses. Other highlights are the Catholic Begijnhof chapel and the English Reformed Church; the courtyard is open daily with free admission, and visitors are asked to keep quiet.
History
The courtyard dates back to the 14th century, when it housed Beguines — pious women who did not take full convent vows; a community is documented as early as 1346. For centuries the hof was surrounded by water and reached through a single gate, and it is among the oldest surviving parts of Amsterdam.