Amsterdam beguinage in the snow
Founded sometime in the 14th century for the Beguines, members of a lay Catholic sisterhood, the Begijnhof is one of Amsterdam’s oldest inner courtyards — and one of the city’s best known landmarks.
Below is a photo taken roughly in the same spot but then during the summer. Yes, the large tree is gone, felled during a storm:
Begijnhof Amsterdam
Right in the center of bustling Amsterdam one can find an oasis of peace known as the Begijnhof — an inner courtyard established in the 14th century.