Beguinage

The Begijnhof in Amsterdam is the only courtyard founded in medieval Amsterdam, located within the Singel. The courtyard lies almost a meter lower than the rest of the city center, at the medieval street level. It is unclear when the Begijnhof was established. The Beguines still lived in one house in 1346. Only in 1389 is there mention of a courtyard for the first time. Originally, the Begijnhof was entirely surrounded by water, with a small gate at the Begijnensteeg as the only access. The back façades were thus in the water. The entrance on the Spui has only existed since the 19th century.

The Begijnhof is not a typical courtyard because it was not a retirement facility established by private individuals. It was more like a kind of convent, although the Beguines had more freedom than nuns in a convent: the Beguines took a vow of chastity but could leave the courtyard at any time to marry. Moreover, there are tall, specifically Amsterdam city houses, which highlight the more or less private character of the courtyard. Here, there are no row houses, as is common and characteristic of most courtyards. There are 47 ordinary city houses, each with their individual appearance, most with façades from the 17th and 18th centuries, but the houses are generally older: 18 houses still have a Gothic timber frame.

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