Pesthuis, Leiden, Historic lazaretto in Leiden, Netherlands.
The Pesthuis is a historic lazaretto in Leiden with a square layout and spacious halls arranged around a central courtyard. A canal runs through the building and separates sections by gender.
Built between 1659 and 1662 to respond to plague outbreaks, the structure was never used for its intended purpose. The epidemic had already ended by the time it was completed.
The entrance displays a sculpted relief by Rombout Verhulst from 1660, showing plague through symbolic figures. This artwork communicates the medical struggle of that era in a visual way.
The building is located at Pesthuislaan 7 and underwent renovation in 2019. Today it functions as a mixed-use development with public spaces available for exploration.
From 1949 to 1989, the building housed the Dutch Army and Weapons Museum Generaal Hoefer. It later became part of the Naturalis museum complex with new roles and functions.
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