{{Short description|Dutch word for a courtyard with almshouses around it}} {{inline refs needed|date=May 2012}} [[Image:Amsterdam Begijnhof 2008.jpg|thumb|''Begijnhof'' in Amsterdam]] [[Image:Hofje van Bakenes.jpg|thumb|The Hofje van Bakenes, a ''hofje'' in Haarlem dating from 1395.]] thumb|Gablestone of the Hofje van Bakenes in Haarlem thumb|Groot Sionshofje in Leiden (Netherlands), 1860 [[Image:Hofje van Gratie.jpg|thumb|The ''Hofje van Gratie'' in Delft]] thumb|The ''Geesthof'' in Naaldwijk [[Image:Middengasthuis2011.jpg|thumb|The ''Middengasthuis'' in Groningen]] 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 word for a courtyard with almshouses 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) ''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 * 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:Hofjes Category:Almshouses Category:Public housing in the Netherlands Category:Dutch words and phrases