Hofje van Guurtje de Waal

It was founded in 1616 by Guerte Jansdochter de Wael, daughter of a rich textile trader, for poor women of the Dutch Reformed faith.

This coat-of-arms is fairly unusual, featuring the Dutch Lion with its head cut off, spouting blood.

Until 1853 governance by female regents was handed down from mother to daughter.

From that time on it was governed by the city council and slowly declined.

Since then it is technically no longer a hofje and is managed by a Haarlem house-rental agency.