In honor of my crazy time spent here in Ghent, today we’ll be visiting the Dr. Guislain Museum. This is a museum of psychiatric and psychological history set in a still-operating psychiatric hospital. The museum’s namesake, Dr. Guislain, was a pioneer in patients’ rights back in the early 1800s, which was revolutionary, as this was a time when patients were still being tied in chains or beaten, among other horrific practices.
Dr. Guislain Museum - The grounds
The grounds are peaceful and almost eerily quiet, probably because you can imagine that what goes on inside the hospital is anything but. Inside the museum, you can walk through the history of psychiatric care, which spans from ancient (Greek and Eastern) times to modern-day medical practices. It focuses on various shifting methods of studying and treating patients, from some that are more near torture, to religious-based practices, and from outdated views like phrenology to modern-day practices of medicine and counseling.
Dr. Guislain - Phrenology head
Old skeletons, strange models of physical anomalies, and terrifying instruments can be observed. There is also some very interesting artwork produced by patients and self-taught artists on display, as well as clips from various films, pointing out the various forms that have been used to depict mental illness in cinema.
Dr. Guislain Museum - Treatment/torture instruments
You can also explore intimidating machines, photographs and drawings of former patients, models of patients’ rooms, old letters and documents from the museum as well as old books that depict former ways of “treating”/torturing psychiatric patients.
Dr. Guislain Museum - Old book depicting the beating of an ill woman
I thought the museum was very interesting and thought-provoking. You might find it disturbing, especially if you have some kind of history of mental or neurological illness in your family, to know that you or your loved ones would have been treated so barbarically in the past. It’s also disturbing to think what today can be explained and treated through our knowledge of biology was once considered as possession by the devil or a side-effect of being bad (take epilepsy for example), something to be driven out of the body through punishment.
Dr. Guislain Museum - A model of a patient's room with a strange machine
On the other hand, it is a relief to know that today, thanks to people like Dr. Guislain who revolutionized the field, patients can receive a more appropriate treatment, to the best of our current medical knowledge and abilities, and that the field is still expanding in terms of research and possibilities.
Dr. Guislain Museum - Slides of brain slices to be studied
I would recommend visiting on a Sunday afternoon (since it’s also one of the only things to do in Ghent on a Sunday). If you want to make it extra spooky, make it a gray, winter day (not hard to come by in Ghent), and maybe even watch something like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest the night before, just to get into the mood.
The full price price is a bit expensive at €6 (just think of it as helping the evolution of psychiatry if you want), and €4 reduced price for residents of Ghent. If you are younger than 26, you’re in luck, as it’s just €1 for you, or free if you’re less than 12 years old, although I don’t think such young kids would enjoy this place.
Open: Tuesday-Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Saturday-Sunday: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Museum Dr. Guislain
Jozef Guislainstraat 43
9000 Ghent, Belgium
Phone: +32(0)9/216.35.95
Email: info@museumdrguislain.be
At the “Phrenology head” language center is under the eye… Two days ago I would say this is so random but after seeing a couple of deaf people arguing (just yesterday!) I reconsider my view of language perception…
