---
title: "Medieval Healthcare in Bruges: A Surprisingl... | Inn Bruges"
description: "Bruges had a welfare system in the 1200s that would impress modern planners."
lang: en
json-ld: |
  [
    {
      "@context": "https://schema.org",
      "@type": "Article",
      "headline": "Medieval Healthcare in Bruges: A Surprisingly Modern Story",
      "description": "Bruges had a welfare system in the 1200s that would impress modern planners.",
      "image": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1524995997946-a1c2e315a42f?w=800&q=80",
      "datePublished": "2026-06-02",
      "dateModified": "2026-06-02",
      "author": {
        "@type": "Organization",
        "name": "Inn Bruges"
      },
      "publisher": {
        "@type": "Organization",
        "name": "Inn Bruges",
        "logo": {
          "@type": "ImageObject",
          "url": "https://www.innbruges.be/og-default.jpg"
        }
      },
      "mainEntityOfPage": {
        "@type": "WebPage",
        "@id": "https://www.innbruges.be/blog/bruges-medieval-hospitals"
      }
    },
    {
      "@context": "https://schema.org",
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "Home",
          "item": "https://www.innbruges.be/"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Journal",
          "item": "https://www.innbruges.be/blog"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Medieval Healthcare in Bruges: A Surprisingly Modern Story",
          "item": "https://www.innbruges.be/blog/bruges-medieval-hospitals"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
---

[](https://wa.me/32489759451)

[INN BRUGES](/)

[Suites](/rooms)[Our Story](/about)[Bruges Guide](/brugge)[Journal](/blog)

[](tel:+32489759451)[](mailto:hello@innbruges.be)[](https://wa.me/32489759451)

![English](https://flagcdn.com/w40/gb.png)EN 

[My Reservation](/my-reservation)[Book Direct](/booking)

![English](https://flagcdn.com/w40/gb.png)EN 

[Back to Journal](/blog)

![Medieval Healthcare in Bruges: A Surprisingly Modern Story](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1591295702404-041416ca3adb?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3w5MTM1MzZ8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxtZWRpZXZhbCUyMGhlYWx0aGNhcmUlMjBicnVnZXN8ZW58MHwwfHx8MTc4ODA2NDQxMHww&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=1080)

Photo by [Nick Seagrave](https://unsplash.com/@seagrave?utm_source=innbruges&utm_medium=referral) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/brown-brick-house-with-green-plants-aba3pxwBQnY?utm_source=innbruges&utm_medium=referral)

History ·  3 min · 2 June 2026 

# Medieval Healthcare in Bruges: A Surprisingly Modern Story

By the 13th century, Bruges had developed a social welfare system that was remarkably advanced for its time. The city had hospitals, almshouses, orphanages, and charitable foundations — many of which survive today as museums or social housing.

The network of godshuizen (almshouses) is unique to Bruges and Ghent. Wealthy citizens and guilds built small complexes of houses around shared courtyards, endowed them with funds, and designated them for specific groups: elderly women, retired craftsmen, widows of guild members.

Over 40 almshouse complexes survive in Bruges. Many are still used as social housing. You can walk through most of the courtyards during daylight hours. The ones on the Nieuwe Gentweg, Katelijnestraat, and Balstraat are among the prettiest — whitewashed houses, tiny gardens, and an atmosphere of calm that contrasts sharply with the busy streets outside.

Sint-Janshospitaal, founded in the 1100s, was one of the largest hospitals in medieval Europe. It treated pilgrims, travellers, and the poor — anyone who needed care, regardless of ability to pay.

The system was funded by a combination of private charity, guild contributions, and church endowments. It worked because Bruges was rich — the trading economy generated enough wealth for the fortunate to support the less fortunate.

When the economy collapsed in the 16th century, many of these institutions survived on their endowments for centuries.

To the Top

### Inn Bruges

A historic sanctuary in the heart of the Venice of the North. Boutique apartments at Katelijnestraat 94, 8000 Brugge.

#### Explore

[Suites](/rooms)[Our Story](/about)[Bruges Guide](/brugge)[Book Now](/booking)[Journal](/blog)[Bike Rental](/bike-rental)

#### Contact

[+32 489 75 94 51](tel:+32489759451) [hello@innbruges.be](mailto:hello@innbruges.be)

Katelijnestraat 94  
8000 Brugge, Belgium 

#### Legal

[Privacy Policy](/privacy)[Terms & Conditions](/terms)[Cookie Policy](/cookies)Cookie Settings

[WhatsApp](https://wa.me/32489759451)

Inn Bruges BV · Katelijnestraat 94, 8000 Brugge, Belgium · BTW: BE 0688.939.629

© 2026 Inn Bruges. All rights reserved.