Godshuis Reylof de Blieck, founded in 1456 as a widow’s house and modified in 1631 by the addition of a house for the poor.
Most almshouses are small, white or yellow painted houses, sometimes in a row, but often grouped around a courtyard.
They are located in the historic center of the Belgian city of Bruges and contribute in any significant way to the overall image that the city offers.

Almshouses were established from the 14th century by wealthy citizens or guilds. The oldest still in existence date from 1330, 1335 and 1355.
They gave shelter to needy elderly or widows without means of subsistence. They were founded by crafts (weavers, blacksmiths, bakers, shoemakers, boaters, etc) or by private persons.
Until the end of the ancien regime they belonged to private foundations that were managed by the boards of the crafts or the descendants of the founders.
The French government expropriated them all and brought them under the public administration that was called the Civil almshouses, the original managers still some zeggingsrecht retained on the promise of the houses.
Among the various names of the public administration, the almshouses are owned remained.

About the city are 45 larger or smaller godshuisbeluiken spread (one on the 46th district of Sint-Pieters dates from 1959).
Of these, 43 are still inhabited by the elderly.
In total there are 260 homes that are rented. By the CPAS at low prices to the elderly Most almshouses still bear the name of their original founders.

The oldest existing church is the 'Rooms Convent' of 1330 in the Catherine Street.
Shortly that followed Hart Berghe (1335, also in the Catherine Street) and St. Joos (1352, in Donkey Street).

Bruges was not the only city that knew 'almshouses'.
Similar foundations was encountered in all major cities of the Southern Netherlands.
In the northern provinces they called them 'courtyards', in England 'almshouses', in France Maisons-Dieu.
For multiple reasons they are in most places disappeared or almost disappeared.
In Bruges they were exceptional position and they are still a significant and visually dominant element in the city, while also a welcome tool in the urban social policy for the elderly.