t The houses in the Begijnhof, encircling the green
g NIEUWE ZIJDE g Contents
E5 ⌂ Spui (entrance at Gedempte Begijnensloot) v 2, 4, 11, 12, 14, 24 # Gates: 9am–5pm daily
With its beautiful rows of houses overlooking a well-kept green, the Begijnhof is the perfect place for some respite from the frenetic energy of the Nieuwe Zijde.
Experience Nieuwe Zijde
t The houses in the Begijnhof, encircling the green
The Begijnhof was originally built in 1346 as a sanctuary for the Begijntjes, a lay Catholic sisterhood who lived like nuns, although they took no monastic vows. In return for lodgings within the complex, these worthy women undertook to educate the poor and look after the sick. Nothing survives of the earliest dwellings, but the Begijnhof still retains a sanctified atmosphere.
t A statue of Jesus stands in the middle of Begijnhof’s green
Picture Perfect
Behind Het Houten Huis (No 34) – one of the oldest houses in Amsterdam – is a white wall adorned with biblical plaques. Capture the wooden-fronted house – one of only two left in the city – and the plaques in one frame for the perfect shot.
The houses in the Begijnhof are still occupied by single women.