Nederland - Leeuwarden, Sint Anthony Gasthuis

Gasthuizen have been a form of housing for poor people for several centuries. Gasthuizen can be found in most cities in the Netherlands, and were generally built with community in mind and by the church. In the city centre of Leeuwarden one of the prettiest is the Sint Anthony Gasthuis.

The Sint Anthony Gasthuis - also called Sint Anthoon - started in the Middle Ages. The oldest mention of the guest house dates from 1425, ten years before the settlements of Nijehove, Oldehove and Hoek were merged into the city of Leeuwarden.

The current guesthouse is officially called the Nieuw Sint Anthony Gasthuis and the buildings dates from 1864. This section consists of four neo-classical pavilions with characteristic facades bearing the arms and names of the noble families who were associated with the guest house as benefactors in early history, such as Burmania, Minnema, Wiarda and Auckama.

Since the last renovation was completed in 1990, the guest house has focused solely on housing for the elderly. Elderly people from the age of sixty can rent a flat in the Sint Anthony Gasthuis.