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Museum · Bruges, Flandres Ocidental
Sint-Janshospitaal
Former medieval hospital in Bruges, on Mariastraat, converted into a museum. It houses works by Hans Memling painted for the hospital itself, such as the Relicário de Santa Úrsula, as well as a 17th-century pharmacy and an attic with oak beams.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Sint-Janshospitaal
The Sint-Janshospitaal, the Hospital of Saint John, was founded in the mid-12th century and is one of the oldest preserved hospital buildings in Europe. It welcomed anyone who needed care or a place to sleep, regardless of origin. Religious brothers and sisters cared for the sick, and the complex grew to include a convent, monastery and new wings.
The hospital operated there until 1977, when services moved to a new building on the outskirts. The oldest wings by the canal became a museum. The 19th-century wards around the central building now form the Site Oud Sint-Jan, used for events.
For many visitors the main draw is Hans Memling, a painter who worked in Bruges in the 15th century. He created four of the works on display for the hospital, which have been in the building since the end of that century. The best-known is the Relicário de Santa Úrsula, a small gilded wooden chapel with painted panels that tell the saint’s journey and martyrdom, displayed in the hospital church. The city’s museums hold the world’s second-largest collection of Memling.
The visit also includes the old pharmacy, with a 17th-century interior and an herb garden where the sisters prepared medicines. In the attic, beneath a roof of oak beams among the oldest and most monumental in Europe, is the Closer to Memling Experience, an installation with music, light and interactive tables about the paintings.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About an hour and a half including the church, the Memling rooms, the pharmacy and the attic.
Best time
Weekday mornings are quieter. On rainy days it’s a good alternative to outdoor sightseeing. The museum is closed on Mondays, except for Easter Monday and Whit Monday; check opening days before you go.
How to get there
The entrance is on Mariastraat, opposite the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk, about a 10-minute walk from the Markt. From Brugge station it’s roughly a 10-minute walk; De Lijn buses stop on Mariastraat.
Tip
Begin with the hospital church, where the Relicário de Santa Úrsula is located, and then go up to the attic. The attic installation is recommended for ages 7 and up. The building has an elevator and lends wheelchairs. The municipal museums of Bruges combined pass includes this museum.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Sint-Janshospitaal
Is the Memling Museum in Bruges the same as the Sint-Janshospitaal?
Yes. The paintings by Hans Memling made for the hospital are housed in the Sint-Janshospitaal museum on Mariastraat in Bruges. Damme has a different St. John’s hospital, which is a separate building.
What is the museum’s most famous work?
The Shrine of Saint Ursula by Hans Memling, displayed in the hospital church. It is a small gilded wooden chapel with painted scenes of the saint’s story.
Until when did the building function as a hospital?
Until 1977, when patient care was transferred to a new hospital. The medieval wings became a museum.