H. Geesttafel

This room is located on the ground floor of the Infirmary building, and is accessible to wheelchairs.

A little history

The 16th century Heilige Geesttafel or ‘Table of the Holy Spirit’ was responsible for care for the poor in the Beguinage. However, it was not just a typical Beguine institution: virtually every parish had one.

To join the Beguinage, you had to be able to show that you could provide for your own maintenance for at least three years. This was to prevent women and girls from becoming Beguines for non-religious reasons. However, if you had been admitted, but were no longer able to provide for your own maintenance after three years, you could turn to the Table of the Holy Spirit. This derived most of its income from donations, and the rent from farms and estates and from houses within and outside the city. Like the Infirmerie, it was run by two democratically elected Beguines. With its oak beams, simple sandstone chimneypiece and restored windows, this room gives a good idea of a typical interior of the time.

Setup facility