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by Roelandp
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roelandp 47 plays | All rights reserved
The Begijnhof is one of the oldest inner courts in the city of Amsterdam. A group of historic buildings, mostly private dwellings, centre on it. As the name suggests, it was originally a Béguinage. This is a collection of small buildings used by Beguines. These were sisterhoods of the Roman Catholic Church, founded in the 13th century in North-Eastern Europe. due to a surplus of women because of violence and war, which took the lives of many men. Great numbers of women had no option but to unite.
Today the begijnhof is also the site of the English Reformed Church.
The Begijnhof is the only inner court in Amsterdam which was founded during the Middle Ages, and therefore lies within the Singel — the innermost canal of Amsterdam's circular canal system. The Begijnhof is at medieval street level, which means a metre below the rest of the old city centre.
It is unclear when exactly the Begijnhof was founded. The courtyard was only first mentioned in 13 eightynine, probably after the religious status of the city rose due to the Amsterdam Eucharistic Miracle of 1345. A miracle which involved a dying man vomiting upon being given the Holy Sacrament and last rites.
Originally the Begijnhof was entirely encircled by water (the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, the Spui and the Begijnensloot), with the sole entrance located at the Begijnen Alley, which had a bridge across the Begijnensloot. The back facades were therefore water-locked. The Spui entrance only dates back to the 19th century.
Today the begijnhof is also the site of the English Reformed Church.
The Begijnhof is the only inner court in Amsterdam which was founded during the Middle Ages, and therefore lies within the Singel — the innermost canal of Amsterdam's circular canal system. The Begijnhof is at medieval street level, which means a metre below the rest of the old city centre.
It is unclear when exactly the Begijnhof was founded. The courtyard was only first mentioned in 13 eightynine, probably after the religious status of the city rose due to the Amsterdam Eucharistic Miracle of 1345. A miracle which involved a dying man vomiting upon being given the Holy Sacrament and last rites.
Originally the Begijnhof was entirely encircled by water (the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, the Spui and the Begijnensloot), with the sole entrance located at the Begijnen Alley, which had a bridge across the Begijnensloot. The back facades were therefore water-locked. The Spui entrance only dates back to the 19th century.