Hofje Floris van Dam

The brick facade on Zuidwal hides a quiet courtyard behind a heavy, arched wooden door. Floris van Dam, a wealthy merchant, established this almshouse in sixteen forty-five to provide housing for poor elderly women. He stipulated in his will that the residents should be of the Reformed faith and live in peace. The small row of dwellings remains largely unchanged, with residents still living in these centuries-old rooms today. Floris van Dam himself is buried right inside the small chapel.