- Year built: 1463
- Original function: monastery & monastery garden
The oldest part of the Dolhuis is on the corner of the Boogjes: the monastery which dates from 1463. The Cellebroeders who lived here provided shelter and care for plague victims. The part of the building where the current entrance is located is from a later date. Originally, this was the convent garden. At the end of the sixteenth century the building came into the hands of the city council. It was designated as a home for the mentally ill and was soon called the 'Dolhuys'. Beggars and vagrants were also accommodated in the complex.
In 1723 it was sold and the residents moved to the Leprooshuis 39 in the Vriesestraat. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, it was used as a working and storage place for various artists, including the stained-glass artist Toon Berg (1877-1967). However, many Dordrecht citizens know the building complex as a party venue and disco, which it was in the second half of the twentieth century. Despite the building's various functions and renovations, many original elements are still present. Since September 2009, after a thorough restoration, this historic building has once again been given a catering function. Today, the Dolhuis houses a pop podium, club, café and space for parties.
