Proveniers Garden In Haarlem, The Netherlands Editorial Image

The Proveniershuis is a hofje (garden) and former schutterij (civic guard) on the Grote Houtstraat in the dutch city of Haarlem. This home for Haarlem proveniers was founded in 1707 by the city council to house elderly men. The fancy St. Joris militiamen, who during the course of the 17th-century met more often together for shooting practise than for fighting or policing the streets, were painted several times in schutterstukken, most notably by militia member Frans Hals. A reproduction of Frans Hals' first schutterstuk is exposed in the garden. At the background the tower of the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church).