This is where Queen Juliana danced with the Amsterdam orphanage boys and nuns from the Lauriergracht
New archives provide insight into the history of a Catholic boys' orphanage on the Lauriergracht in Amsterdam, which operated from the late 17th century until 1960. The complex, which famously hosted Queen Juliana in 1953, has since been transformed into a social space for local residents, theater groups, and childcare.
Following the Protestant takeover of Amsterdam in 1578, Catholic orphans were initially placed in private homes. Eventually, the Catholic community raised funds to build a dedicated orphanage on the Lauriergracht, with construction beginning in 1686 and concluding in 1883. For sixty years starting in 1900, the facility was managed by the Sisters of the Congregation of the Poor Sisters of the Divine Child. Recently released archives from 1907 to 1930 reveal insights into the daily lives of these orphans, many of whom pursued trades like blacksmithing or gardening upon reaching adulthood.
The orphanage witnessed a notable visit from Queen Juliana in 1953, who famously danced with the residents and the nuns. Over the following decades, the complex transitioned into a shelter for guardianship children and later a psychiatric facility. After closing as a medical institution in 1990, the buildings were repurposed for social use. In 1992, the complex was converted into housing for local elderly residents, a daycare center, and a theater space, eventually earning a nomination for the 1998 Urban Renewal Award.
Based on reporting by parool. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
