Amsterdam · Canal Ring

Begijnhof

A tranquil courtyard dating from the 14th century, originally home to the Beguines, a Catholic sisterhood.

About Begijnhof

A tranquil courtyard dating from the 14th century, originally home to the Beguines, a Catholic sisterhood. The last Beguine died in 1971, but the houses are still occupied by single women. Het Houten Huys, Amsterdam's oldest preserved wooden house from 1528, stands at number 34. Entry is free but silence is required.

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The place

Getting there

Address

Begijnhof 1, 1012 WS Amsterdam, Netherlands

Neighborhood

Canal Ring →

Nearest Metro

Tram 13/17 to WestermarktTram 1/2/5 to Spui10-minute walk from Centraal

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Good to know

Tips, answered

Enter through the inconspicuous wooden door on Gedempte Begijnensloot, not from Spui—most tourists miss this oasis entirely.

Plan for about 30 minutes. Morning visits are typically less crowded.

Begijnhof is in the Canal Ring neighborhood of Amsterdam. The address is Begijnhof 1, 1012 WS Amsterdam, Netherlands. The area is well-served by metro.

Morning visits, especially early, mean fewer crowds and better light for photos. Weekdays are significantly quieter than weekends.

Comfortable shoes are recommended. Parts are outdoors, so bring a light layer.

Around the corner

Nearby in Canal Ring

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Shopping

De Negen Straatjes

Nine picturesque streets connecting the three major canals (Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht) in the city center, packed with independent boutiques, vintage shops, specialty stores, and cafes. Each street has its own character: Reestraat for fashion, Huidenstraat for homeware and design, Gasthuismolensteeg for vintage. The canal crossings between streets give you postcard views in every direction. These nine streets occupy some of the most expensive real estate in Amsterdam, but somehow most of the shops remain independent rather than chain. You'll find a perfumer who's been blending custom scents for 30 years next to a cheese shop that's been in the same family for generations. The vintage clothing stores are genuinely good, not the picked-over tourist-bait you find elsewhere. Laura Dols on Wolvenstraat specializes in vintage evening wear and is worth a visit even if you're not buying. The Nine Streets are also a strong lunch and coffee stop. Screaming Beans on Hartenstraat does excellent specialty coffee. The Pancake Bakery on Prinsengracht (technically one block north) serves the Dutch pancakes you're supposed to try at some point. Plan to spend a couple of hours wandering. The streets are short, so you can cover all nine at a comfortable pace. Most shops close on Mondays, and Sundays are quieter than Saturday. Visit Tuesday through Saturday for full access to everything.

2-3 hoursExplore

Market

Bloemenmarkt

The world's only floating flower market, running along the Singel canal since 1862. The stalls sit on houseboats moored to the canal bank, though the floating part is more technical than dramatic. You won't feel the water moving. What you will find is rows of stalls selling tulip bulbs, potted orchids, seeds, wooden tulips, clogs, and every possible flower-related souvenir aimed at tourists. Here is the honest truth: the Bloemenmarkt is more souvenir market than flower market at this point. Most stalls sell packaged bulbs and tourist kitsch rather than the cut flowers that made it famous. If you want to see how the Dutch actually buy flowers, go to a regular florist or a supermarket. But the Bloemenmarkt is still worth a walk-through, especially in spring when the displays brighten up and the bulb stalls bring out their best stock. The canal setting is genuinely pretty. The market runs from Koningsplein to Muntplein along the Singel, about 200 meters. Walk through, admire the displays, pick up some packaged bulbs if you want to try growing tulips at home (most ship internationally and clear customs fine), and then keep walking. Don't buy the plastic clogs. Budget about 20 minutes unless you're a serious gardener, in which case the seed selection is surprisingly deep and the prices are reasonable.

30 min-1 hourExplore

Tour

Canal Cruise Amsterdam

A one-hour canal cruise through the UNESCO-listed canal ring, passing under bridges and alongside 17th-century merchant houses. The open boats at EUR15-18 are better than the EUR25 glass-roofed tourist cruises: smaller groups, open air, and you can bring your own drinks. The route covers Herengracht, Keizersgracht, and Prinsengracht, with commentary on the gabled facades, houseboats, and Golden Age history.

1-1.5 hoursExplore

Museum

Amsterdam Museum

Chronicles Amsterdam's transformation from medieval fishing village to modern metropolis through interactive exhibits and paintings. Housed in a former orphanage, the museum features the free civic guard gallery displaying massive 17th-century group portraits. The Amsterdam DNA exhibition offers a fast-paced 80-minute journey through the city's history.

2 hoursExplore

Museum

Woonbootmuseum

Experience authentic houseboat life aboard the Hendrika Maria, a 1914 cargo ship converted into a floating home. The museum shows the practical challenges and charms of living on water, from waste management to staying warm in winter. The cozy interior reveals how 3,000 Amsterdammers make houseboats their permanent homes.

45 minutesExplore

Museum

Allard Pierson

The archaeological museum of the University of Amsterdam, housing impressive collections from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and the Near East. Recently reopened after extensive renovations, it offers a more intimate museum experience away from the tourist crowds.

1.5-2 hoursExplore

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