Begijnhof (Beguines’ Court)

There are countless interior courtyards, many with beautifully planted gardens, hiding behind Amsterdam’s 17th-century façades. One of the oldest and most famous is the Begijnhof, believed to have been built in the Middle Ages. Don’t go out of your way to come here, but if you’re exploring the canal belt and Rokin areas, where sights include the Amsterdam Museum, you will walk by this serene spot many times. There is a pact of silence on the grounds (some of the buildings are private residences), and group visits are not permitted. Most locals seem to use the pretty walk through the Begijnhof as a shortcut from Rokin to the Spui.