Sint Elisabeths Gasthuis (Saint Elizabeth Hospital), Arnhem

Welcome to Saint Elizabeth Hospital — a historic landmark in the Dutch city of Arnhem that offers visitors a glimpse into more than a century of social, architectural, and wartime history. Founded as a Roman-Catholic hospital in 1878 by local pastor J.H. van Basten Batenburg, the institution was intended to serve the sick, needy, and vulnerable in the community.

Between 1893 and 1896, the renowned architect Johannes Wilhelmus Boerbooms designed the main building in a distinctive Neo-Renaissance style. The hospital was named after Elisabeth of Thuringia, and for many years its care was entrusted to Franciscan nuns from Münster — a reminder of the institution’s spiritual roots.

The building occupies a striking position on a small elevated ridge (a “stuwwal”) on the western edge of Arnhem’s city centre — a location that both underscores its prominence and makes it visually dominant at the city’s western entrance.

During the dramatic days of the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944, the hospital found itself in the middle of the fighting zone. At various points, it served as a field hospital treating wounded soldiers from both sides, operating under the flag of the Red Cross.

After decades of medical service, the hospital’s function ended in 1995 following institutional mergers. The main historic building — now a protected national monument — has since been sensitively converted into residential apartments, blending preservation with contemporary use.

For tourists in Arnhem, Saint Elizabeth Hospital offers more than architecture: it stands as a silent witness to the city’s medical tradition, wartime trials, and adaptive reuse. A walk around its red-brick wings or a glance at its chapel evokes layers of history — making it a meaningful stop for anyone interested in Arnhem's heritage.