Close-up of the frieze (1614) by Gregorius Cool above the entrance door of the Willem Vroesenhuis in Gouda (South Holland), Netherlands
The Willem Vroesenhuis is an old man's house in Gouda founded by Willem Willemszoon Vroesen den ouden in 1555. The house is located on the corner of Molenwerf and Spieringstraat in the center of Gouda. Willem Vroesen (Gouda, 1478-1561) decided in 1555 to make his house and yard available for the care of old poor men in the city of Gouda. Willem Vroesen belonged to a group of wealthy citizens of the city, who fulfilled important functions. One of his granddaughters, Adriana Vroesen later married the Mayor of Gouda, Pieter Wouterszoon Crabeth, son of the well-known glazier of the St. Janskerk Wouter Crabeth. As early as 1537, Willem Vroesen and his wife Machtelt Voppendochter made an important sum of money available to distribute bread to the poor in the winter. The Willem Vroesenhuis has for centuries fulfilled its function as an "old man's house", which was acquired in the 16th century. It was not until 1977 that the last old man's householder (the well-known Gouwenaar and honorary citizen of the city, Mr. van de Putte) left the monumental building. After much discussion and numerous protests against new construction plans, it was decided to restore the complex. Now the complex consists of 13 homes and 5 residential units around a picturesque courtyard. The frieze above the entrance door was made in 1614 by the town sculptor Gregorius Cool, who received 227 guilders and 15 nickels for this. The picture shows three regents who care about the fate of five old men. The spells "Spartam-Nacti" and "tempora-labuntur" resp. "Sparta reached or acquired" and "time passes" symbolize the function that this building has held in Gouda for so long. In 2016, the monumental tree in the courtyard was cut down due to illness. The Gouda artist Jan Mostert made a work of art from the trunk of the tree, which was unveiled in June 2017 under the name "Willem".
Size: 5760px × 3840px
Location: Willem Vroesenplein 1, 2801 PR Gouda, South Holland, Netherlands, Europe
Photo credit: © DE ROCKER / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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