Lazaruspoortje, Historical gate in Gouda, Netherlands.
Lazaruspoortje is a carved stone gateway in Gouda featuring intricately detailed relief work from the 1600s. The passageway displays multiple human figures and ornamental stonework telling a narrative through sculptural detail.
This gateway was built in 1609 to serve as an entrance to a house that cared for people with leprosy in Gouda. Decades later it was moved to a new location and repurposed as part of a museum complex.
The stone carvings on this gate tell a Biblical story about generosity and compassion through detailed figures. These images were meant to speak to people passing through, connecting them to a message about caring for others.
This gateway is accessible through the museum grounds and sits behind Sint Janskerk church, making it easy to find. It works best as part of a museum visit to see how it fits within the broader space.
Inside the passageway you can spot an original stone block from an old tannery, bringing together materials from different periods of the town's past. This incorporated stone creates an unexpected link between two different chapters of local history.
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