Saint John's Hospital - Damme

The oldest mention of St. John's Hospital goes back to 1249 and it is clear that it must have been founded before 1249.

As in the Sint-Janshospitaal in Bruges, here too the brothers were charged with the care of the sick of the male sex, later with the hospital management. The sisters were responsible for the nursing of girls and women , and later for taking care of all the sick.

The main building dates from the middle of the 13th century and was built in early Gothic style, in which many Romanesque proportions and shapes still exist. Between the 13th and the 16th century, many renovations and further extensions were carried out.

Until the beginning of the 21st century, the hospital served as a rest home for the elderly, after which it was abandoned. Since 2021 it is a new hotspot for heritage and art where the tradition of hospitality is continued.

Willem Vandenameele