Doorway to Elisabeth Gasthuis

About

Elisabeth Gasthuis Poort (Dutch: Poortje Elisabetsgasthuis) is the address of a doorway in Haarlem. The neo-classical stone doorway is dated 1767 in roman numerals, and the gable stone set into it from 1612 was repainted in 2017. The entire doorway is part of the Elisabeth Gasthuis complex and has itself been declared one of the national monuments of The Netherlands.

This doorway originally led to the small public garden called the Elisabeth Gasthuis tuin with an entrance to the old regent rooms. Hospital expansion over the centuries has resulted in this doorway now opening onto a large stairwell as part of the larger hospital complex. Today no longer a hospital, the various parts of the old complex are used mostly for educational purposes and residential apartments.

There still is a small garden in the middle of the complex however, and another gate still leads to that garden from the other side of the block. Like other parts of the old St. Elisabeth Gasthuis complex, this door also bears the coat of arms of Haarlem with that of Elizabeth of Hungary (the three crowns).

The gable stone tells the history of the hospital. On the left a monk peeks at the viewer, symbolizing one of the...