Gasthuismuseum

Om museet

The Gasthuis of Geel was founded shortly before 1286 by the lord Hendrik III Berthout. It cared for the sick of the region and for pilgrims who came to Saint Dympna; it was not a psychiatric hospital. In 1552 Augustinian sisters took over the care. When the French secularised the hospital in 1789, the sisters stayed on as staff. The complex was protected as a monument in 1938.

In the 1960s the public authority that owned the building wanted to demolish it and sell the land. The sisters, who had left the Gasthuis in 1969, bought the building in 1971 and set up a museum in it. The chapel from 1476–1479 is the oldest part; later came a cloister gallery (1663) and the Red Room (1860), which is devoted to Saint Dympna and psychiatric care.

Today the museum tells two stories of the Barmhartige Stede (Merciful Abode): that of the Gasthuis with the Augustinian Gasthuis Sisters, and that of Saint Dympna, patron saint of people with mental illness. You discover the veneration of Dympna and the origins of the typical family care of Geel, and in the former workshops the historic slaughterhouse, laundry, kitchen, brewery and bakery.

Højdepunkter

• The authentic convent site of the old Gasthuis, dating from the 17th century
• The story of Saint Dympna and family care in Geel
• The life of the Augustinian Gasthuis Sisters and the care of the sick
• Historic workshops: kitchen, laundry, brewery and bakery
• Museum games for children and families, such as “Moord in het Gasthuismuseum” (Murder at the Gasthuis Museum)

Permanente udstillinger

• Het Gasthuis en de Gasthuiszusters Augustinessen – A walk through the old Gasthuis on the 17th-century convent site, about the care of the sick and about life and crafts in the past.
• Sint-Dimpna en de Geelse gezinsverpleging – The story of Saint Dympna, patron saint of people with mental illness, her veneration in Geel and the origins of family care.

Entrépriser & rabatter

Holders of a Museumpas enter free; a Museumpas costs €64.95. The reduced rates cannot be combined. You can pay by mobile on site.

Tilgængelighed

• Delvis kørestolsvenlig
• Elevator
• Handicaptoilet
• Handicapparkering
• Servicehunde tilladt
• Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
• Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger

Most of the museum is accessible to wheelchair users, mobility scooters and other aids. A few places in the monumental section are harder to reach or narrower; please let the museum know so that it can provide an extra ramp or a museum wheelchair. Some doors, corridors and lifts are no wider than 110 cm, so wider wheelchairs and scooters cannot enter; you can park your own vehicle safely and under cover in the hall. There is a wheelchair-accessible toilet, museum wheelchairs and folding stools. Assistance dogs are welcome. There are two parking spaces for people with disabilities at the museum.

Børn og familie

Velegnet til børn og familier

• Familieomvisninger & workshops
• Opgavehæfte, skattejagt eller audioguide for børn

The museum offers museum games for ages 6 to 99: a detective game, 'Murder at the Gasthuis Museum', and a photo treasure hunt, 'I Spy … I Spy'. Children from age 8 can work on their own; a game lasts 1.5 to 2 hours. There are also workshops and lectures.

Transport & parkering

The museum lies hidden in the heart of the town. You can also reach it by bicycle; nearby are cycle network nodes 80 and 81. From Lier, Turnhout, Hasselt and Diest the journey takes about 30 minutes.

Service & spisesteder

• Museumsbutik

The museum shop sells small gifts and design items. There is a bicycle shelter, and you can pay by mobile.

Arrangementer & udlejning

Museet har ikke offentliggjort oplysninger om dette.

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