Karthuizerstraat 89-171
Open: daily 10am - 8pm (no groups)

This courtyard, also known as the Huyszitten Weduwenhof, has braved the centuries. The Karthuizerklooster once stood here on an area of thirty hectares. It was outside the city wall and often fell prey to pillage and destruction. What remained of the monastery was rented after the Alteration (1578) to private persons, especially farmers who used the monk cells as a place of residence for their servants. In 1602, the monastery yard became a graveyard where plague deaths were buried. Almost half a century later, in 1650, the Huiszitten Weduwenhofje was built, after the design of city architect Daniël Stalpaert, which is still there. The building contained 100 rooms, intended to house the "huis-zitten-weduwen" (home-sitting-widows). Although specifically intended for widows, other women were also housed. Officially, the courtyard is still called "Weduwenhof" (Widow courtyard) but it is popularly called "Karthuizerhof" which is more appropriate.

Palmgracht 28-38
Open: yes, opening hours unknown

The Raepenhofje was founded in 1648 by Pieter Adriaansz. Raep, one of the notables of the city. The courtyard on the Palmgracht (or Nieuwe Braak, as the canal was called in the 18th century) was intended for widows and orphans. The founding year 1648 can be read in the facade under the coat of arms of Pieter Adriaansz. Raep: The keystone shows a turnip (raap in Dutch) with the initials P.A. above it. The courtyard consists of six houses with twelve residence that were inhabited by women. The letter L on the door frames refers to the fact that the residents were members of the Reformed Church. In 1957 the houses were renovated and kitchens and toilets were built. Nowadays female students live there. They can continue to live there after their studies, but they cannot live together and the gate is still locked at night.

Tuinstraat 199-225

This courtyard was probably founded around 1645, by gunpowder maker Cornelis Martenszoon Pronck: he bought the ground in 1641. The seven houses along the Tuinstraat were intended for poor, older Roman Catholic ladies of impudent behavior, as can be read in the regulations in the passage of the courtyard. In 1724 a further seven houses were built behind it, creating an inner courtyard. The origin of the name of this courtyard is not exactly known. In a cash book from 1739 the first mention is made of the “Pronckenhofje called De Zeven Keurvorsten." This may have its origin in a somewhat cynical name by local residents, who had little interest in the Roman Catholic church and the Catholic inhabitants of the courtyard. Initially there were only seven houses, perhaps each house was named after a Elector. In 1940 some small houses were merged. The courtyard has since been completely restored and renovated twice. By merging there are now 12 homes, which are still rented out as social housing. The front door looks closed, but during the day the courtyard is usually open.

Eerste Egelantiersdwarsstraat 1-5 and Egelantiersstraat 26-50
Open: yes, opening hours unknown

This courtyard is actually a combination of two courtyards: the Zwaardvegershofje and the Claes Claesz. Anslohofje. The last one is one of the first courtyards in Amsterdam and when it was restored in the 1960s, it was in pitiful condition. Many buildings here seem old, but they are not. The first part is the original Claes Claesz. Anslohofje. Mennonite cloth merchant Claes Claeszoon Anslo lived on the Nieuwendijk, but was from Norway. Like many other wealthy citizens, he owned a piece of ground in the Jordaan. From 1616 Anslo and his wife offered free shelter to the elderly in 3 houses in their garden on the Egelantiersstraat. They determined that this poor relief should continue after their death. The entrance to the Zwaardvegershofje can still be seen at Tuinstraat number 35 and 37. Unlike the courtyards from the 19th century, with their monumental entrance, access to the 17th century Anslohofje is easy. This door is now closed and refers to the entrance of the current Claes Claeszhof around the corner.

Boomstraat 52
Open: no, closed for public

The Broenshofje is a relatively young courtyard, founded in 1851 by Mrs. A.C. Broen, who had donated the house to the Association for the support of the less fortunate. It was freely occupied by six Protestant single women. In a will it was determined that the residents would receive a payment of f 1,00 per week from the interest and in addition to “free living” the ladies enjoyed partly free fuel, a payment of f 35,00 per quarter and a party package for Easter, Christmas and Saint Nicholas. In fact, the courtyard is no more than a deep house with six rooms, three upstairs and three downstairs, opening onto the corridor.

Egelantiersgracht 105-141
Open: daily from 10am - 5pm

The Roman-like Sint Andrieshofje on the Egelantiersgracht was founded in 1614, making it one of the oldest courtyards in Amsterdam. The name refers to the apostle Andrew, one of the disciples of Jesus. The Catholic merchant and founder of the courtyard Jan Oly van Velsen has never been allowed to experience the opening of the courtyard, intended for poor Catholic elderly women; he died in 1615 while the courtyard was only completed in 1617. In the 17th century, the courtyard came under the care of the ministry of the Begijnhof. Originally, the courtyard had 66 residents in the 36 houses; later the residents were reduced to only one per room. Today, the courtyard consists of twelve HAT units (Huisvesting Alleenstaanden en Tweepersoonshuishoudens: Housing singles and two-person households, built between 1975 and 1985 with a special subsidy).

Lindengracht 149-163
Open: daily, opening hours unknown

The Suyckerhoffhofje, also called the Suy(c)kerhofje, was built in 1670. The courtyard takes its name from the founder Pieter Janszoon Suyckerhoff. In his will of the 4th of January 1667, stated that his legacy should be devoted to building and maintaining a poor man's court. The courtyard was only intended for "deprived daughters and widows of the Protestant house" and the condition for admission was also that these "female persons" were honest and of good conduct and that they had a "peaceful temper". Originally, the courtyard consisted of 19 houses. By merging, there are now only 15 left. Every home now has its own sanitary facilities.

This canal with 36 monuments is the canal between the Prinsengracht and the Lijnbaansgracht. Well-known residents such as Hendrick van Uylenburgh, art dealer and painters Govert Flinck (1615-1660) and George Breitner (1857-1923) lived on this canal at the time. Multatuli has made the Lauriergracht gain eternal fame by having the main character Droogstoppel, from the world-famous book Max Havelaar, be housed on this canal. The Lauriergracht was previously called Caetsbaangracht.

Multatuli (pseudonym for Eduard Douwes Dekker) started his book Max Havelaar with the famous text: "Ik ben makelaar in koffie en woon op de Lauriergracht No 37" (I am a coffee broker and live at No 37 Lauriergracht). Eduard Douwes Dekker has made a deep impression on later generations with the book, which also contains the special story of Saidjah and Adinda. According to a business card in the book, the fictional coffee broker 'Last & Co' is located at this address. At the time, a monastery was located here and therefore no coffee brokerage; yet there is a sign next to the door on the house that now stands, with the name of the coffee merchant on it.

"It looks like the Noordermarkt here" was an Amsterdam statement in the early 17th century. The Noordermarkt, formerly known as the Princenmarkt, was a rag and patch market where it was always very busy and cluttered. On Monday, women 'turned around patches' which made that day known as patch day. The market later also grew into a center of the pigeon trade. Today, there is still a popular Saturday market here from 9am to 4pm. But there is now much more to be found than just rags and birds! From antique crockery, to contemporary art and from clothing to delicious delicacies, the market has much to offer. Adjacent there is an organic market and around the corner there is also a daily market on the Lindengracht.

In the 17th century, the Westerkerk was built as a showpiece for the wealthy inhabitants of the canals. The workers in the Jordaan got the Noorderkerk, designed by architect Hendrick de Keyser and built between 1620 and 1623. A special feature of the design of this church was the floor plan of a Greek or Andreas cross. This means that the arms of the cross are of equal length. In this way the church could be built around the pulpit with the Bible on it. Original 17th century is nowadays only the plastering of the walls, the marble base of the pulpit and the dark oak wood that has been used in a number of benches. The floor of the Noorderkerk is a complete and still intact gravestone field. Sometimes more than five people are buried under a tombstone.

On the 25th and 26st of February 1941, the Communist Nation of the Netherlands (CPN) held a public meeting on the Noordermarkt. The raids in the Jewish neighourhood prompted a general strike that spilled over from Amsterdam to large parts of Noord-Holland (province in the Netherlands). The strike was violently ended by the German occupying forces within two days. On the south side of the Noorderkerk, a plaque has been placed that recalls the prohibited public gatherings on the Noordermarkt.

On the Noordermarkt is a statue of Woutertje Pieterse and his girlfriend Femke, from the famous book written by Eduard Douwes Dekker (1820-1887), also called Multatuli. In addition, next to the church you can find the 'Unity the Strongest Chain' in memory of the Jordaan riot.

This special national monument from 1622 on the corner of the Prinsengracht/Brouwersgracht has been café Papeneiland since 1896. On Prinsengracht 7 there used to be a Catholic hidden church. The escape route from this shelter church ran to this building, which is why the cafe was called Papeneiland. Whether that corridor ever really existed is unknown, but the remains of an escape corridor can still be seen in the cafe.

In late May 2011, the cafe had the honour to welcome former president Bill Clinton. He had come to the cafe especially to eat apple pie. An hour before the former president came, owner Tieltje received a call to reserve a place for the former president. After the usual grumbling, "Actually we never do that, but we will for only this time", there was only one place left for Clinton. And he came. A month later, Tieltje received a letter from the former president in which he thanked him for the delicious apple pie.

This primary school is named after the Amsterdam school teacher Theo Thijssen (1879-1943). Who says Theo Thijssen, says Kees de Jongen, his novel about Kees Bakels, who is almost 12 years old. And who says Kees Bakels also says: De Zwembadpas (the swimming pool wa;l). This was a special way of walking that makes you move faster, thought up by Kees. You walk with your arms as if you almost fall over. In 2001 a special Zwembadpasdag (swimming pool walk day) was held with even the first Dutch swimming pool walk championships. In 1947 the Westerstraatschool in Amsterdam was renamed the Theo Thijssenschool. A lot has changed since then! This also applies to the location: since 1986 the school has been located in Anjeliersstraat. There the Theo van Thijssenschool moved to a former Catholic kindergarten at number 153-157. A beautiful building that was built in 1927 in the so-called architectural Amsterdam School style.

Theo Thijssen was much more besides being a writer. He was a teacher, unionist, social democratic Member of Parliament and above all Amsterdam and a real Jordaan resident. Born here as the son of a cleaner, he went to the Rijkskweekschool voor Onderwijzers in Haarlem with a grant from the state. Despite the very authoritarian education at the time, Thijssen always placed the children in the center and assumed that going to school and having lessons for children should be fun. Also named after the writer: Café Thijssen at Brouwersgracht 107. On the square in front of the cafe is a statue of Theo Thijssen. At the Eerste Leliedwarsstraat 16, the small Theo Thijssen Museum is dedicated to the writer.

Directly behind the Amsterdam Museum you can find the Begijnhof, nowadays an oasis of peace in the bustling heart of the city centre. Around the year 1150, a group of devout women decided to join a religious community for the main purpose of caring for the sick people and providing education. These women were the first 'begijnen', although this name was not used at the time. The women were not nuns, nor did they live in seclusion from a monastery all their lives. They did not know any founders or did not made lifelong vows. They had to be unmarried, but they could withdraw their vows at any time and leave the Begijnhof, for example, to get married.

The Begijnhof consisted of small houses and a church, around a courtyard that was closed at night. During the Reformation, the begijnen had to give up their church to the English. It has since been referred to as the 'English Church'. The medieval houses were rebuilt or replaced over time, but the wooden facade of the house at number 34 has been preserved. The house dates from the second half of the 15th century and was reconstructed in 1957 using the original materials. The Begijnhof in Amsterdam can be visited daily.

The Beurs van Berlage, former Stock Exchange of Amsterdam (1898-1903) by architect H.P. Berlage, is nowadays a prominent center for conferences, meetings and events. The brick architecture is typically Dutch, combining functionalist details with inspiration from Romanesque and Renaissance architecture. In addition to several large conferences, the Beurs van Berlage also holds exhibitions. Bistro Berlage with the sunny terrace on the Beursplein is a favorite spot of locals for coffee, lunch or drinks.

This cafe in the former skipper's café of the Beurs van Berlage takes you all the way back to bustling New York of the 1920s. There are regular live jazz performances.

In 1903, the building at number 48 of the Warmoesstraat was taken into use by the police and later three adjacent buildings were added. By connecting the buildings to each other, the office got a characteristic interior with narrow corridors and steep stairs. Officers working at Warmoesstraat had to deal with all kinds of crimes: he faced pickpockets, car thieves, vandals, burglars, drug dealers, liquidations, assault, street robbery, trafficking in women, corruption and illegal gambling. Officer Baantjer has worked here for 28 years and wrote crime novels based on his experiences. Of the 70 titles with inspector 'De Cock' as the main character, more than 7 million copies were sold and many of his novels have been translated into English and German. From 1995 a television series was made, based on the stories of Appie Baantjer, starring Piet Römer and Victor Reinier. The police station was located in this building until the end of 2000, but unfortunately it is not possible to take a look inside this private house.

The 3rd photo was taken in 1981, you can see the policemen walking in front of the police office (photo credit: City Archive Amsterdam).

This wooden house at Zeedijk 1 was built in 1550 and is one of the last two original wooden houses in Amsterdam. In the 17th century sailors stayed in this tavern. They were allowed to pay their bills with monkeys brought from overseas. These cute monkeys were, of course, full of fleas. Someone who scratched his head back then had probably spent the night here, was the assumption. The Dutch expression "je bent in de aap gelogeerd" (you spent the night in the monkey) is still used, meaning that you are in trouble. Nowadays there is a cafe here, which is still called 'In' t Aepjen'.