The Begijnhof is one of the oldest hofjes in Amsterdam, Netherlands. A group of historic buildings, mostly private dwellings, centre on it. As the name suggests, it was originally a béguinage. Today it is also the site of two churches, the Catholic Houten Huys and the English Reformed Church.
The Begijnhof of Amsterdam
Begijnhof, 2015
The Wooden House
A beguinage, from the French term béguinage, is an architectural complex which was created to house beguines: lay religious women who lived in community without taking vows or retiring from the world.
Our-Lady Ter Hooyen, Small Béguinage of Ghent
View of the Beguinage in Kortrijk
A beguine, inhabitant of a beguinage. Excerpt from a manuscript of the beguinage of Sint-Aubertus in Ghent. Made ca. 1840.
View of the Groot Begijnhof in Leuven