The portal guards over one of the sites
of the orphanage founded by
Evert Zoudenbalch in 1497
One of the most prominent families was the Zoudenbalch family (also known as Soudenbalch) throughout the Middle Ages to the age of the Dutch Revolt.
They occupied all posts of importance in the city government, possessed various lordships in the vicinity and played a leading role in the history of the Sticht.
Evert Zoudenbalch's most enduring legacy and greatest fame is due to an act of charity.
In the late fifteenth century he decided to establish the first orphanage in the northern Netherlands and left it an immense capital to finance its acts of charity.
The orphanage was an exceptional piece of gothic architecture and was dedicated to the paragon of noble charity, St. Elisabeth of Hungary, Landgravine of Thuringia.
The gothic complex was however damaged beyond repair during the siege of Vredenburg (1567.1568) in the course of the Dutch Revolt and the buildings were demolished.
of the orphanage founded by
Evert Zoudenbalch in 1497
One of the most prominent families was the Zoudenbalch family (also known as Soudenbalch) throughout the Middle Ages to the age of the Dutch Revolt.
They occupied all posts of importance in the city government, possessed various lordships in the vicinity and played a leading role in the history of the Sticht.
Evert Zoudenbalch's most enduring legacy and greatest fame is due to an act of charity.
In the late fifteenth century he decided to establish the first orphanage in the northern Netherlands and left it an immense capital to finance its acts of charity.
The orphanage was an exceptional piece of gothic architecture and was dedicated to the paragon of noble charity, St. Elisabeth of Hungary, Landgravine of Thuringia.
The gothic complex was however damaged beyond repair during the siege of Vredenburg (1567.1568) in the course of the Dutch Revolt and the buildings were demolished.
The orphanage was then re-located to another location between the Springstraat and the Oudegracht in 1582
