Hidden courtyards

Tucked away behind the street facades and canals of Amsterdam’s inner city are countless courtyards. Most of them were built in the 17th century as a form of Christian benevolence. Wealthy Amsterdammers built them to shelter elderly widows, for free, in the last years of their life. Though inhabited mostly by students and artists these days, they still remain a serene oasis frozen in time. A fine example of one of these courtyards, and one of the largest of Amsterdam, is the Karthuizerhof in the Jordaan district. It was built in 1650, and listed on the inside of the gate are the names of charitable donors who made it possible for the city to build the property. The most famous of all courtyards in Amsterdam is the Begijnhof which dates back to the 15th century. This courtyard was originally inhabited by ‘Begijntjes’; religious women who didn’t want to enter a convent.