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We found this place on our third visit - a calm little oasis of tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle of the shopping streets and markets - look for the ornate doorway off of the Spui.
The Begijnhof was founded in the 14th century for members of the Catholic sisterhood living as nuns but without taking vows and who had the right to return to the secular world.
There's a lovely little book market just outside here too.
Open 10am-5pm - free entrance. The Catholic Chapel is still used. Leave a Comment Address: Near Amsterdams Historisch MuseumDirections: Spui (rhymes with "cow" btw)
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 A rare sight - grass in
Amsterdam! by mazzap
The Begijnhof is a lovely courtyard of houses surrounding a raised walled grassed area. Among the buildings is the oldest house in Amsterdam - (see my next tip.) The Begijns were a 14th century order of lay sisters who founded their community here in 1346. They devoted their lives to helping the ill and the poor. The last true Begijn died in the 1970's. In the centre of the courtyard is a quaint chapel - The Begijnkerk. Leave a Comment Address: At the end of Schuttergalerij
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 Begijnhof by sue_stone
There is also a beautiful gothic church hidden here. Leave a Comment
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The Begijnhof - Beguinage in Amsterdam is certainly a pleasant and quiet part of the old city but as a beguinage I felt surprised by the architectural heterogeneity of this ensemble!
Maybe I am too much accustomed to Belgian begijnhoven-beguinages (there are a dozen only in Flanders) with their great architectural homogeneity.
In Amsterdam I found a number of certainly charming old houses but all different from each other. Compare with the beguinages of Leuven, Brugge or Lier (photo 2) in Belgium and you will understand why I was surprised.
It seems that this change came first from the confiscation of all Catholic churches, monasteries and convents by the Orangist Calvinists authorities in 1578.
In the 17th and 18th alterations were made to the houses in the Begijnhof; and wooden façades were changed. At the restoration of the Begijnhof (1984-1987), the courtyard was renovated and some houses enlarged.
Al this explains probably why this "Begijnhof" in Amsterdam has lost its architectural homogeneity characteristic of beguinages in other countries.
Anyway, the place was quiet and that is an essential characteristic of a begijnhof - beguinage.
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 Begijnhof house garden by JetlagCity
There's also a little English Church in here, where the Pilgrims may have worshipped on their way to America, as well as a secret chapel where Catholics used to worship before religious tolerance was reinstated. Leave a Comment
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 Beguinage by Helga67
You can enter the Beguinage between 9 am and 5 pm. Leave a Comment
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 Quaint Wooden House by mazzap
Above the door of this one can be found a plaque bearing the words “Het Wouten Huys” meaning Wooden House. Leave a Comment Address: At the end of Schuttergalerij
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 by MATIMLeave a Comment Address: entrange at Spui or Gedempte BegijnenslootDirections: you can find the beguinage at a side street of the busiest shopping street of Amsterdam, de Kalverstraat
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 by MATIM
The houses where renovated between 1982 and 1987
The beguinage is one of the twenty habitat beguinage in Amsterdam.
In the 47 houses of this beguinage are living students and elderly ladies. The last sister died in 1971. Leave a Comment Address: entrange at Spui or Gedempte BegijnenslootDirections: you can find the beguinage at a side street of the busiest shopping street of Amsterdam
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 Beguinage by Helga67
Beguinages were isolated parts of town were only women (beguines) lived in tiny houses. They also worked and prayed together within this community. They could join or leave as they wished, since there was no obligation of vows like in monasteries. The only vow was chastity. Leave a Comment
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