Begijnhof

This is one of the oldest collection of houses surrounding a courtyard in Amsterdam. It’s inner courtyard was founded during the Middle Ages and it’s still at medieval street level – which puts in a meter below the rest of the old city center.

It unclear when exactly when it was founded but there are record of beguines living here in 1346. Benguines lived in semi monastic community but don't take formal religious vows.

The gable stone above the gate depicts Saint Ursula, the patron saint of the Amsterdam beguines.

The most famous beguine in the Begijnhof's history is sister Cornelia Arens, who died on 14 October 1654. Her date of birth is unknown, but she professed the vows of chastity and the Catholic faith on 6 July 1621.

Rather than be laid to rest in the Chapel, which she considered "desecrated" by Presbyterians, she chose to be buried in the gutter of the court. Contrary to her wish however, she was in fact buried in the Chapel, however her coffin was found in the adjoining gutter the following day. The returned her coffin to the chapel but twice more her coffin was found in the gutter and returned to the Chapel.

After the third time of this back and forth strange activity started taking place. Items would go missing, people would report strange noises. This continued until once more her coffin was found in the gutter. This time the coffin would remain in the gutter and no more strange disturbances took place again.