Hofje In den Groenen Tuin
Encyclopedia
The Hofje in den Groenen Tuin is a hofje
Hofje
A hofje is a Dutch word for a courtyard with almshouses around it. They have existed since the Middle Ages.A hofje provided housing for elderly people . They were privately funded, and served as a form of social security...

 in Haarlem
Haarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...

, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

.

History

It was founded in 1616 by Catherina Jansdr. Amen, the widow of Jacob Claesz. van Schoorl. In 1885-6 the hofje was completely rebuilt and the number of houses for pensioners was brought back to 18 from 20 in order to gain space and make the homes more suitable for modern living.

Though today the restrictions no longer apply, a copy of the old rules and regulations for the Hofje is posted near the front door. It states that members must be at least 50 years old, and still able to make a living, so that they are not a burden to the Hofje. Furthermore, they must purchase their place with 50 guilders, and bring a bed, 6 sheets, decent clothing and wool and linens. This will be controlled and registered by the regents. Meanwhile, everything that the pensioner earns or is awarded, or inherits, will all revert to the Hofje when the pensioner dies.

It is open to the public Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon.

Its address is Warmoesstraat 23.
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