6 tips for fun courtyard walks

They are well hidden, but if you look carefully you will find them: the nice hofjes that our country has. In fact, there are even special hofjes walks. Courtyards are an oasis of calm in the big city. Some are not open to the public, but we went in search of hofjes where everyone is allowed to look and walk around.

What are hofjes anyway?

A hofje is basically a courtyard or inner garden surrounded by houses. Often these houses are not that big and are monuments. There are different types of hofjes, such as workers’ hofjes. These are mostly sweet and cute now, but very early on, the houses surrounding the hofjes were mainly for the poorest layer of the population. Especially workers were housed in these houses so that they lived close to their work. Charity hofjes mainly housed elderly women who had little money. Often the church took care of these women. Men ended up more in old men’s homes. Nowadays, almshouses are mostly very idyllic and romantic.

Almshouses in The Hague

The Hague has many cute little courtyards. Stichting Gilde Den Haag regularly organizes nice courtyard walks. The starting point is right in the center, namely Restaurant ‘t Goude Hooft! The walk goes all the way to Westeinde. During this walk you will visit the most beautiful almshouses of the Hofstad. Cicerones also offers courtyard walks through The Hague. Of course, you can also explore on your own, but keep in mind that not all hofjes can be visited just like that. Some hofjes can only be visited with a guide.

Almshouses in Leiden

Spread throughout Leiden you will find 35 different almshouses! The oldest hofjes are over 500 years old! You literally go back in time when you take a walk through the almshouses. You can go by yourself(here are some tips) but you can also buy a booklet at the local tourist office for € 3.50. It contains the 17 most beautiful almshouses. Most hofjes were founded by cloth merchants. They housed their employees, but also founded them for the elderly poor. The Jean Pesijnhofje is one of the most beautiful hofjes in Leiden. The French refugee Jean Pesijn founded this almshouse with his wife after their only daughter died of plague. You will find this hofje at the Kolksteeg 21. The St. Salvatorhofje is also worth visiting. This hofje was founded in 1627 for mainly poor women. They were often unmarried or widowed and were allowed to live in a hofje free of charge in exchange for good behavior.

Almshouses in Haarlem

In Haarlem, you can do your own 5.8 km courtyard walk. Will you then see all the hofjes? No, because that would make the walk too long. However, you will pass very beautiful and interesting almshouses. For example, you will pass the Teylershofje, which was built in 1787. The almshouse was founded from the estate of Pieter Teyler van der Hulst: a wealthy Haarlemmer who traded in silk. The 24 houses in this hofje have a beautiful and impressive entrance. The Frans Loenenhofje was founded in the old orchard of the Norbertine monastery and housed mostly elderly ladies over 70. You can find the Haarlem courtyard walk here.

Haarlem courtyard walks with a story

We stay a little longer in Haarlem, where you will find the Hofje van Bakenes. This is the oldest hofje in the Netherlands and it dates back to 1395. Another Haarlem hofje is the Hofje van Guurtje de Waal. This is the smallest hofje in Haarlem. Widow Jut was not admitted to this hofje because she had concealed the fact that her late husband had once committed a double murder.

Almshouses in Zutphen

If you’re in Zutphen, hit a random side street off one of the main shopping streets. You are immediately in a completely different world. Colorful facades, lots of greenery and beautiful plants and monumental warehouses. Tips: the Heukestraat, the Kolenstraat and Barlheze are our favorites! More fun courtyard walks and tips can be found in this document.

More nice courtyard walks

Did you get the hang of it after these tips and want to do more fun courtyard walks? On this website you will find many more fun walks with directions!

Credits photos: OpstapmetLisa – This blog was created editorially.