Sint-Andrieshofje

A plain door on the canal

From the Egelantiersgracht you see a row of ordinary front doors. One of them, with the name painted above it, leads into Sint-Andrieshofje. Step inside and the street falls away. You walk down a passage lined with blue-and-white Delft tiles and come out in a small, quiet courtyard.

It is one of the oldest almshouse courtyards in Amsterdam. Only the Begijnhof, a little over ten minutes on foot from here, is older. It is small, so you will not need long. What makes it worth the walk is how much sits behind such a modest entrance.

Built in secret, still lived in

In 1614 a cattle farmer named Ivo Gerritsz left almost his whole fortune to build homes for elderly Catholic women. His nephew, Jan Jansz Oly, gave the land. The hofje opened in 1617.

The timing mattered. Catholic institutions were forbidden in Protestant Amsterdam then, so the hofje was set up without a founding charter. It stayed in the family for most of the 17th century.

Since 1699 it has been run by the same foundation as the Begijnhof. The houses are still rented to women living alone. This is someone's home, not a display, and that is why the house rules are strict.

What to look for

Start with the tiled corridor. It is the part everyone remembers, so take a moment in it before you walk on.

At the far end you reach the garden. Look for the water pump, which dates from the 18th century. Then find the gable stone from the early 17th century. It shows Christ and carries the words "Vrede sy met U", Peace be with you. Given that the place began as a quiet Catholic refuge, the words suit it.

The rules are the same as at the Begijnhof. Whisper or stay silent. Do not photograph the windows. Keep your visit short. If visitors get too noisy, the door can be closed. The tiles and the garden are what you came for, so point your camera there.