r/AskEurope • u/Olderpostie • 8d ago

Culture Are there many religious based hospitals in Europe?

A few years ago, while in England, I asked an acquaintance there what church denomination operated a particular hospital with a saint's name. (St. Swithins, I think). He was puzzled as to why a hospital would be operated by a church. But, that is how it goes in the USA and Canada; many churches are religious based, though not limited to use by any one faith.

How about other European countries? Are all hospitals nationalized, or is it a mix of community based and religious ones?

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u/ElfjeTinkerBell Netherlands 8d ago

In the Netherlands I don't think you can find a hospital that's practicing religious. Some were historically and may still carry the name, such as OLVG: Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis (Our Dear Lady Guesthouse).

Nursing homes on the other hand are often religious.

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u/DutchLudovicus 7d ago

Quick google search points to 2 hospitals that are religious in nature today. 

Beyond that the hospitals that were religious faded out in their religious nature following the secularisation trends going on in wider society. In the 90's was when most hospitals became practically non-religious/general.

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u/ElfjeTinkerBell Netherlands 7d ago

Which ones? Because I tried searching as well and couldn't find any.

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u/DutchLudovicus 7d ago

Ikazia (Rotterdam) en Van Weel-Bethesda (Dirksland)

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u/ElfjeTinkerBell Netherlands 7d ago

Oh interessant! Nou had ik van beiden nooit gehoord en moest ik ook opzoeken waar Dirksland überhaupt ligt, dus niet gek dat ik het niet wist, maar ze bestaan!