Sint Geertruidsgasthuis, Medieval residential complex in Groningen, Netherlands
The Sint Geertruidsgasthuis is a residential complex in central Groningen composed of multiple buildings arranged around an inner courtyard. The ensemble features an ornately decorated 17th-century gate and preserves traces of different historical uses throughout its spaces.
The founding dates to 1405 when Berneer Solleder and his son Albert built the house to shelter pilgrims visiting a relic of John the Baptist. After Spanish capitulation in Groningen, the facility transformed into housing for elderly residents.
The name Gasthuis points to its original role as a shelter, yet the courtyard with residential buildings today shows the life of a modern housing community. Residents use the courtyard as shared living space, continuing the location's long history as a refuge.
The complex is centrally located in Groningen and easily reached on foot, with the courtyard as the focal point where visitors can walk freely. Some spaces are now used for weddings and the chapel holds ecumenical services, so checking opening times beforehand is sensible.
Between 1405 and 1702, one section operated as a viewing gallery where visitors paid to observe people with mental illnesses. This practice was not uncommon at the time and reveals how attitudes toward illness and compassion have shifted across centuries.
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