Armen de Poth, Medieval almshouse complex in Amersfoort, Netherlands
Armen de Poth is a residential complex for elderly residents in Amersfoort with 48 units arranged around Sint-Rochuskapel. Three entrance gates and traditional Dutch brick architecture define the courtyard's appearance.
The Brotherhood of the Holy Spirit founded this complex in the 14th century to assist plague victims and distribute weekly food rations to the poor. It evolved into an institution dedicated to caring for elderly and vulnerable people over centuries.
The layout around Sint-Rochuskapel shows how residents continue to live as a supportive community today. The rooms of the cellar sisters reveal that women held important roles in managing daily care and assistance for the elderly.
You can visit the complex from sunrise to sunset, though it is closed on Sundays. Guided tours provide access to the chapel, the display house, and the cellar sisters' room.
One of the 48 residential units functions as a display house showing how residents once lived in tight quarters with minimal furnishings. The remaining units are still occupied today and form a living part of a community spanning over 600 years.
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