★★★★★ 5.0
Discover
Proveniershuis
1414. That's when the first stone was laid for what would become one of Haarlem's most dramatically transformed buildings. Standing before you on Grote Houtstraat is the Proveniershuis, where high-born nuns once prayed in the St. Michielsklooster, their voices echoing through these very walls for over 150 years. But this courtyard has witnessed more reinventions than a master actor. When you step through that magnificent stone entranceway ahead of you, designed by the legendary architect Lieven de Key in 1592, you're walking where Elisabeth Verhagen once lived as a nun... until the Protestant Reformation tore her world apart. The Haarlem archives still preserve her heartbreaking complaint about watching soldiers plunder her beloved cloister as it transformed into the St. Joris Doelen, a militia drill ground where armed men practiced where prayers once rose. Notice how these homes surrounding the courtyard are nearly twice the size of typical Dutch hofjes. That's because this became something revolutionary in 1707 - the Netherlands' most exclusive retirement community, where elderly gentlemen actually paid rent instead of relying on charity. The rectangular garden stretching before you takes up an entire city block, making this one of the largest hofjes in all of Holland. Four centuries, four completely different lives... and the walls remember them all.
Did You Know?
- A giant once lived here: One of the most famous residents of Proveniershuis was Daniel Cajanus, an eight-foot-tall Finn known as the 'Wonderful Giant,' who lived in the 18th century and was so notable that a commemorative painting of him now hangs in Haarlem’s city hall.
- From nuns to shooters to retirees: The site’s history is a patchwork of dramatic changes—it began as a 14th-century nunnery (St. Michielsklooster), became a militia shooting range after the Reformation, then a chic travelers’ inn, and finally, in 1707, a retirement home for men who could pay their own way, making it unique among Haarlem’s hofjes which were usually for poor women.
- Secret garden in the city: Unlike typical Dutch hofjes, Proveniershuis features a courtyard garden twice the usual size, surrounded by larger homes, reflecting its original purpose for wealthier male residents. Today, this tranquil, lush garden remains a hidden oasis for reflection and leisurely strolls, tucked away behind the bustling Grote Houtstraat.