They are called “Hofjes” in Dutch and there are big ones and small ones, some open to the public and others closed. I only got to visit a couple of them, one being the most famous Begijnhof. As women still reside within the enclosed quarter, the sign said no pictures so I only have the one that I took right after entering w/o knowing that particular rule and the one I apologizingly took very quickly right before leaving the courtyard.
The other one I visited was seconds from where I was staying in Jordaan. Most of the time I passed by the building, the door was closed. I found it open one day.
But I was in a hurry and didn’t have the time to step inside and at the time I really wasn’t sure if you were allowed to go in.
The next time I found the door open, I had to go in.
What a lovely little courtyard it was!
A blog by Ayako Mathies 