Armen- en zie­ken­zorg in Gorin­chem 1300 – 1850

The history of poor and sick care in Gorinchem goes back to the 14th^de century. The Holy Spirit House and the Gasthuis were the oldest institutions providing care for the poor, the sick, and the elderly. Over time, more facilities were added, such as the Leper House and the Pest House for infectious diseases. The city also subsidized a doctor, pharmacist, and midwife to expand care for the poor. In addition to these official institutions, there were also private initiatives, such as the establishment of "kameren" (rooms) where the elderly could live for free and sometimes receive money or goods. Poor and sick care in Gorinchem thus developed into a fairly complete spectrum of services for various target groups.