Page 93 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

NIEUWE ZIJDE  91

7 Begijnhof noise, retains a sanctified century. Directly west
atmosphere. Among the stands the Begijnhof Chapel,
Spui (but public entrance at
Gedempte Begijnensloot). houses that overlook its a clandestine church in
Map 1 C5. v 1, 2, 5, 9, 14, 16. well-kept green is the city’s which the Begijntjes
Open 9am–5pm daily. oldest surviving house at and other Catholics
No. 34. On the adjoining worshipped in secret
The Begijnhof was originally wall there is a fascinating until religious tolerance
built in 1346 as a sanctuary for collection of wall plaques was restored in 1795.
the Begijntjes, a lay Catholic taken from the houses. Stained-glass windows
sisterhood who lived like nuns, In keeping with the and paintings depict
although they took no monastic Begijntjes’ religious scenes of the Miracle
vows. In return for lodgings, outlook, the plaques Plaque on the of Amsterdam. Public
these women undertook to have a biblical theme. Engelse Kerk tours are not allowed.
educate the poor and look after The southern fringe Also, visitors are
the sick. Nothing survives of of the square is dominated requested to be quiet and
the earliest dwellings, but the by the Engelse Kerk (English not visit the Begijnhof in
Begijnhof, cut off from traffic Church), dating from the 15th large groups.

The Begijnhof Chapel, a clandestine No. 19 has a plaque
church (Nos. 29–30), was completed depicting the exodus of
in 1680. It contains many reminders the Jews from Egypt.
of Amsterdam’s Catholic past.

Begijnhof Houses
These are still occupied by
single women.

Biblical plaques cover the
wall behind No. 34.

Spui entrance
Main entrance from
Gedempte
Begijnensloot

Engelse Kerk
Houten House This church was built around
No. 34 is Amsterdam’s oldest house, 1419 for the Begijntjes. It
dating from around 1420. It is one of was confiscated after the
the city’s two wooden-fronted houses; Alteration and rented to a
timber houses were banned in 1521 group of English and Scottish
after a series of catastrophic fires. Most Presbyterians in 1607. The
of the Begijnhof houses were built Pilgrim Fathers may have
after the 16th century. worshipped here.

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