Why visit / Interesting facts:
- The city's oldest house
- Calm, peaceful oasis
Time required: 30 minutes
Phone: +31 20 622 19 18
Web site: http://www.begijnhofamst...
Opening hours:
| Time period | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| Daily: | 9am - 5pm |
Admission:
| Ticket type | Charge |
|---|---|
| General: | Free |
Public transport:
- Tram Line 1: Spui stop
- Tram Line 2: Spui stop
- Tram Line 5: Spui stop
Address: Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 373, 1012 RM, Amsterdam
Photos: (see more photos)
Photo: dutchamsterdam
Things you need to know:
- Begijnhof is a leafy garden courtyard in central Amsterdam that is the original epicenter of the city from which it expanded
- The houses belonged to Begijn, a lay Roman Chatolic sisterhood living in a loose semi-monastic community but without formal vows
- No. 34, Het Houten Huis, is the city's oldest house and one of two remaining timber houses. Timber houses were banned in 1521 after a series of catastrophic fires
- No. 30 is the Begijn Chaple (Begijnhofkapel) the sisterhood's chapel built in 1671
- Begijnhof remained active even arter 1578 when the city converted from Catholicism to Protestantism. The last Begijn died in 1971
- The central church is the English Church (Engelse Kerk)
- Today the houses are privately owned.
What to do there:
- The entrance can be found on Gedempte Begijnensloot
- Enter the wooden door and you will feel like in an oasis of silence
- Walk around and look around in the peaceful courtyard
- Enter the Chatolic chapel to see a stained glass window of the Pilgrims praying before boarding the Mayflower
Tips & Insights:
- Please respect the tranquility of the place
