Mrs. Konijn is inner mother of Hofje van Bakenes: the oldest existing hofje in the Netherlands. As inner mother she is responsible for the daily management of the hofje. Mrs. Konijn tells what it is like to live in the hofje.
From butchery to Spain
Mrs. Konijn grew up in the polder of Wormer. She married from her parental home and moved to Haarlem when she was about 24 years old. Together with her husband, she ran a butcher shop in Marnixstraat and had two children: a son and a daughter.
After several successful years, they sold the butcher shop to the Rabobank and bought a house in Heemstede. The Konijn family spent many a summer camping at the beach, where they made new friends and played the oldest known card game, donkey playing, night after night.
After a divorce, Mrs. Konijn moved to Spain, where friends she had met at the campsite also lived. Summers she still came to Holland to visit her brother, sisters and children. While visiting her brother in Monnickendam, he asked her, "Sister, what is your plan?" Mrs. Konijn replied, "Either I will become a nun, or I will live in a hofje."
From Spain to the court
Several hofjes were contacted and some time passed. When Mrs. Konijn was with her daughter Sandra in Holland, she received a phone call from Mr. De Hollander, the supervisor of the Hofje van Bakenes. A house would become available.
Mrs. Rabbit went with her daughter to see and get acquainted. The regents eventually had to decide whether Mrs. Rabbit could come and live in the hofje. In addition, she would have to leave behind her beloved Spain. The acquaintance was a success and the regents agreed. Mrs. Konijn decided to live in the hofje. She has since lived there with great pleasure for more than 25 years and is proud to be inner mother of this striking place. She is the eyes and ears of the hofje and welcomes the new residents when they come to take a look and get acquainted. There is a friendly atmosphere and solidarity in the courtyard.
Court of Bakenes
The Hofje van Bakenes, also known as the Bakenesserkamer, is the oldest surviving hofje in the Netherlands. It is one of 22 hofjes in Haarlem. It was founded in 1395 from the estate of Dirck van Bakenes.
Dirck van Bakenes, born around 1330, was the only son of a prominent and wealthy family from Haarlem. He was alderman (local administrator) and in 1383 was deputized to Leiden as "Council of Haarlem" for a legal dispute, a position equivalent to that of mayor at the time. After his death, according to his testamentary provisions, the hofje was built by his widow and both sons.
Visit
The hofje can be found on the Bakenessergracht in the center of Haarlem and has several entrances: one on the Bakenessergracht and one on the Wijde Appelaarsteeg. You can also reach the hofje via the Johannes Enschedé Hof: the youngest hofje in the Netherlands that has a very different atmosphere. The current houses of Hofje van Bakenes date from the 17th century. Originally the hofje consisted of 13 houses for 20 women, but after the reconstruction in 1663, some of the houses were converted into regent rooms, leaving room for 12 women. The hofje only houses women 60 and older.
The courtyard is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A visit to the Hofje van Bakenes begins at the gate on Bakenessergracht with a special riddle. The facade stone reads:
Institution entranceÂ
by Dirk van BakenesÂ
for Women's eight andÂ
two mael ses
This riddle has two solutions: originally there was room for 8 + (2 x 6) = 20 women, and the age of the occupants was (8 + 2) x 6 = 60 years.
Special thanks to Mrs. Rabbit for the warm welcome and lovely conversation.
