Old St. John's Hospital

Old St. John’s Hospital (Sint-Janshospitaal) in Bruges is a medieval hospital complex founded in the 12th century that has been preserved and converted into a museum. The site comprises original wards, treatment rooms and ancillary buildings that illustrate medieval and early modern hospital care.

The complex contains a museum collection that includes works by early Netherlandish painters such as Hans Memling alongside artifacts and medical instruments connected to the hospital’s functioning. The preserved wards and corridors show how the institution was organised and served pilgrims and the sick over many centuries.

The hospital lies close to the historic centre of Bruges and the city canals, forming part of the dense cluster of medieval civic and ecclesiastical buildings for which the city is known.

• Age and collections: One of Europe's oldest preserved hospital complexes, the site combines original medieval fabric with later additions and houses notable early Netherlandish paintings.

What to See #

• Medieval wards and infirmary: A complex of medieval hospital buildings and wards dating from the 12th century onwards that have been preserved and adapted into museum displays.
• Memling Museum and collections: The museum collection includes religious paintings and artifacts, and a permanent display of medical instruments and hospital-related objects from the site's long history.