Nederland - Delft, Klaeuwshofje

Delft is one of the cities in the Netherlands that has a number of so called hofjes. A hofje is a Dutch word for a courtyard with almshouses around it. They have existed since the Middle Ages. Characteristically, almost all are built around an inner garden.

The Klaeuwshofje is named after the brewery “In De Claeuw”. It was founded in 1605 by the Uyttenhage van Ruyven couple. Often, hofjes are founded as inheritance of his or her founder, which is not the case with The Klaeuwshofje. In fact, it was built when the couple was still alive.

The Klaeuwshofje is one of the more hidden courtyards in Delft. The houses were intended for unmarried or widowed Catholic women. After a renovation, nowadays the inhabitants have double the amount of space; an improvement over the original sizes of the houses.