Begijnhof - Amsterdam
Enter the serenity of another age as you walk along the paths of this 14th-century convent in the heart of Amsterdam. Take special note of the wooden house, which dates to 1420 - the oldest of its kind in the city. The other houses, cozy brick buildings surrounding the courtyard green, date to the 17th and 18th centuries. Little has changed in this small sanctuary, which was originally built for nuns of the Beguine order. In fact, the Begijnhof is still home to single women only. The church in the center of the courtyard dates to 1419 and has belonged to the English Presbyterian Church since 1607. Another fascinating relic of history is the 17th-century chapel, which was once a conventicle where persecuted Catholics came to worship in secret. http://www.bmz.amsterdam.nl/adam/nl/hofjes/begijnhof.html