Hoven
Hoven is a Dutch noun that generally refers to enclosed outdoor spaces associated with buildings, typically courtyards or yards. It is the plural form of hof, which can denote a courtyard, a garden, a farmyard, or, in historical contexts, a manor or estate. In architectural and urban-historical writing, hoven describe the open courts found within or between structures—such as a cloister court in a monastery, a central courtyard in a noble residence, or the inner yards of a row of houses.
Linguistic and toponymic notes: The word has roots in Old Dutch hof and is cognate with related
Contemporary usage: In modern Dutch, the term is primarily encountered in historical discussions, architectural descriptions, and