Wilhelmina Gasthuis (Wilhelmina Hospital)

I'm sure I've written about it before, but I live in one of the buildings that used to be part of the Wilhelmina Hospital. To be more precise, I live in the building where the nurses used to live.

Pictured above is what used to be the main building of the Wilhelmina Hospital, it's named after the great grandmother of our king. She laid the first brick in 1891 when she was 10 years old. 'Gasthuis' is actually kind of an old-fashioned name, you could literally translate it into guest house, of course the only guests were ill or even dead (see photo below).

pathological anatomic lab

Wilhelmina Hospital was built in the area where in the older days the 'pesthuis' was located, a house where people with the plague were 'treated'.

This street name (see photo above) still reminds us of that time.

In search for material to shoot for my big commission I thought it a good idea to photograph the remnants of the old hospital. Most of it is gone, but if you look closely you'll find some of its old glory.

Apparently there was a separate ward for women, as the name on this building implies. 

WG: ornament at a front door

WG: statue by Hildo Krop

The Wilhelmina Hospital moved in parts as of 1981 to the newer location of the AMC (Amsterdam Medical Centre). It finally closed its doors in 1983 after which it was renovated as living quarters and studios.