View source for Hofje

{{Short description|Dutch word for a courtyard with almshouses around it}}
{{inline refs needed|date=May 2012}}
[[Image:Amsterdam Begijnhof 2008.jpg|thumb|[[Begijnhof, Amsterdam|''Begijnhof'']] in Amsterdam]]
[[Image:Hofje van Bakenes.jpg|thumb|The [[Hofje van Bakenes]], a [[Hofjes in Haarlem|''hofje'' in Haarlem]] dating from 1395.]]
[[Image:Gevelsteen Bakenesserhofje.jpg|thumb|Gablestone of the Hofje van Bakenes in Haarlem]]
[[File:Obreen, Henri Guillaume Arnaud Groot Sionshofje ErfgoedLeiden LEI001006703.jpg|thumb|Groot Sionshofje in Leiden (Netherlands), 1860]]
[[Image:Hofje van Gratie.jpg|thumb|The ''Hofje van Gratie'' in [[Delft]]]]
[[Image:Naaldwijk hofje.jpg|thumb|The ''Geesthof'' in Naaldwijk]]
[[Image:Middengasthuis2011.jpg|thumb|The ''Middengasthuis'' in [[Groningen]]]]
[[Image:Hofje van Pauw Delft.jpg|thumb|Entrance gate to ''Hofje van Pauw'' in Delft]]
A '''{{Lang|nl|hofje|italic=yes}}''' (diminutive of <nowiki/>'hof'<nowiki/>, <nowiki/>'court') is a [[Dutch language|Dutch]] word for a courtyard with [[almshouse]]s around it. {{Lang|nl|Hofjes|italic=yes}} have existed since the Middle Ages.
A {{Lang|nl|hofje|italic=yes}} provided housing for elderly people (mostly women). They were privately funded, and served as a form of social security. In the [[Netherlands]] there are still a number of {{Lang|nl|hofjes|italic=yes}} in use.
{{Lang|nl|Hofjes|italic=yes}} are usually built in a U-shape with a yard or garden in the middle, and a gate as entrance. The shape of {{Lang|nl|hofjes|italic=yes}} was most likely inspired by the (older) [[Béguinage|''Begijnenhofjes'']]—groups of small houses inhabited exclusively by religious women.
A distinction is usually made between the ''Begijnenhofjes'' and 'regular' {{Lang|nl|hofjes|italic=yes}}. The former were used only by (Catholic) women, who were supporting themselves. They were a kind of cloister. The latter were more charitable institutions.
To be eligible to live in a {{Lang|nl|hofje|italic=yes}} one had to meet four criteria:
# Sex: almost all {{Lang|nl|hofjes|italic=yes}} were founded for women, as they could be relied on to keep a household running; although {{Lang|nl|hofjes|italic=yes}} for men and married couples did exist
# Religion: many {{Lang|nl|hofjes|italic=yes}} were founded for people of the same faith as the founder (some {{Lang|nl|hofjes|italic=yes}} were founded by church communities)
# Age: from the 17th century a minimum age was often used. Fifty years was common, and this was an old age in those years
# Social-economic background: {{Lang|nl|hofjes|italic=yes}} were targeted for poorer people
In the 18th century some {{Lang|nl|hofjes|italic=yes}} were founded for commercial purposes; the inhabitants would pay rent.
The "''Hofje van Mevrouw Van Aerden''" in [[Leerdam]] is open to visitors as a museum.
Cities with many {{Lang|nl|hofjes|italic=yes}} in the Netherlands include:
* [[Alkmaar]]
* [[Amsterdam]]
* [[Delft]]
* [[The Hague]]
* [[Groningen (city)|Groningen]]
* [[Haarlem]] (see [[Hofjes in Haarlem]])
* [[Leiden]]
* [[Utrecht]]
==External links==
*[http://www.godutch.com/inserts/Tollendale/articles/p0809a01.asp Introduction to the history of hofjes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040926122853/http://www.godutch.com/inserts/Tollendale/articles/p0809a01.asp |date=2004-09-26 }}
*[http://www.hofjevanaerden.nl/ Museum Hofje van Mevrouw Van Aerden]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uENLOy44lQc Video tour of Haarlem's Hofjes]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120321162322/http://staff.science.uva.nl/~bpozsgai/hofjes-in-amsterdam.html A map to the Hofjes in Amsterdam]
[[Category:Dutch words and phrases]]
[[Category:Hofjes| ]]