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City Tour » Almshouses

Samuel de Zee's hofje

On the other side of the Doezastraat is the entrance to the Samuel de Zee's almshouses. As the name suggests, the almshouses were founded by Samuel de Zee. This man was born under the name of Samuel le Maire and remained, after four marriages, without an heir. His inheritance was therefore to go to his nephews and nieces, but the relationship with his family was not too cordial.
Hence the inscription above the gateway: "My gateway will not close your mouths". The message was even more unequivocally expressed in the inscription above the street entrance: "for good, but not rich, nieces and nephews".

During his lifetime Samuel bought an old tennis court with some houses and began to rebuild them. In 1743, a further eleven houses and a Governor's room were added, rendering the ground-plan quite complicated. From 1981 onwards major restorations have taken place.


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