History

Caring for orphans
In 1570, two Amsterdam ladies took on the responsibility for some orphaned girls. That is how the history of the Roman Catholic Maagdenhuis began. In the sixteenth century the city had a lot of orphans, due to a short life expectancy (35 to 40 years) and relatively large families.
The Catholic orphanage for girls grew quickly and, after various moves, was established in 1628 on the Spui. In the period until 1750, the Maagdenhuis expanded, thanks to the generosity of the Amsterdam merchants. In 1780, it was decided to replace the ancient complex by a new building. The extraordinary monumental building now known by many as the Maagdenhuis on the Spui came into being, designed by the architect Abraham van der Hart. In the first decade, the new building provided accommodation for nearly 400 children and 13 carers.

From 1840 onwards, the care and accommodation of the children was entrusted to the Sisters of Charity. The sisters themselves gave lessons in language and in Christian education and devoted much attention to training in needlework. The sisters performed this task for more than a century.
As a result of improved economic circumstances and public health in the 20th century, the number of orphaned girls declined. The attitude to social welfare also changed. In 1953, the Maagdenhuis closed down as an orphanage; the premises are now the property of the University of Amsterdam.

Caring for the sick and elderly
In the second half of the 19th century, many incurably ill patients were nursed in the Maagdenhuis, including many former orphans. In 1890, the St Elisabeth’s nursing home was established for that purpose on the Mauritskade. Later, this home had the function of providing care for the elderly and after the closing of the Maagdenhuis in 1953 the remaining residential orphans were accommodated here. In 1967 this home was also closed.

After the closure of the large homes for the elderly, the Maagdenhuis made a significant contribution to the building of modern, and once again large-scale, intramural facilities, with the accent on care for the elderly. It was in this spirit that the nursing and rehabilitation centre Vreugdehof, the de Klencke service flats, and, in close collaboration with the Vredenburgh Foundation, the Nieuw Vredenburgh centre came into being.

Thus, for 400 years the Maagdenhuis has dedicated all its efforts to the large-scale relief of those needing help, focussed initially on orphans (girls). Later, that care was extended to the elderly.
Since 1970, the Maagdenhuis has also functioned as a foundation that focuses on small-scale support for projects. It is not only a question of financial support, but also of advice for these projects. Ultimately, in the course of the seventies and eighties, a whole new way of working blossomed into the Maagdenhuis ‘mission’.