Hofje van Bakenes or Bakenesserkamer

At the entrance of the Hofje van Bakenes stands a mathematical riddle.


Entrance of the Institution

of Dirck van Baekenes

for Women eight and

two times six.


The solution would have two answers:

(8 + 2) × 6 = 60, the age a woman must have to live here

8 + (2 × 6) = 20, the number of women that can live in the hofje


The Hofje van Bakenes or Bakenesserkamer is a typical Haarlem hofje. The hofje has two entrances: one on the Bakenessergracht and one on the Wijde Appelaarsteeg. The entrance on the Wijde Appelaarsteeg is the main entrance. The Hofje van Bakenes is the oldest still-existing hofje in Haarlem.


The hofje was built in 1395 according to the testamentary provisions of merchant Dirck van Bakenes. His widow and her two sons had the hofje constructed.

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