Erfgoed Delft

Under the leadership of Alijd and Martijn Gijsbrechtszoon the sister community blossomed and was soon elevated to convent status. On 12 December 1402, the house gained the permission of the city of Delft to be wound up. This permission was necessary to ensure that convent assets would be exempt from worldly taxation. On 30 April 1403 the Bishop of Utrecht then gave the order of enclosure, which promoted the sisters community of house and chapel to a nuns convent. This enclosure also meant their separation from the outside world. In principle they would stay within the convent walls; visitors only to be allowed in designated areas of the convent. After a trial period of about a year the Bishop officially recognised the convent on 17 March 1404. The maximum number of nuns was limited to 30.