Highlight • Monument
Godshuis Sint-Laureins
Hiking
4.3
(40)
Gravel riding
5.0
(1)
Cycling
5.0
(1)
Tips
Els Q
April 20, 2022
Hiking
The imposing almshouse in Sint-Laureins immediately catches the eye. The listed building dates from the 19th century. The intention was that it would become a kind of hospital for people with swamp fever, a disease that was still frequent in the wetlands of Meetjeslandse creeks. The building's purpose has changed several times throughout its history: from a home for the elderly and the common sick, to an orphanage and educational institution, and even a hotel. It is currently empty.
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🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën
August 23, 2026
Hiking
The Monumental Godshuis van Sint-Laureins is an impressive 19th-century building that still dominates the wide surroundings. With its symmetrical brick wings, stately staircase, and striking domed tower, it almost resembles a small palace, right in the middle of the quiet polder landscape.
The complex was built between 1843 and 1849 thanks to the generous legacy of Antonia Van Damme, a wealthy resident of Sint-Laureins. In her will, she stipulated that her fortune should be used for a godshuis (almshouse), where poor orphans, the elderly, and the sick from the region could be housed and cared for.
The complex was built between 1843 and 1849 thanks to the generous legacy of Antonia Van Damme, a wealthy resident of Sint-Laureins. In her will, she stipulated that her fortune should be used for a godshuis (almshouse), where poor orphans, the elderly, and the sick from the region could be housed and cared for.
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Nearby routes
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Details
Informations
Elevation 40 m
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Saturday 31 October
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4°C
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Max wind speed: 7.0 km/h
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