Holy Spirit Orphanage

Heilige Geest ('Holy Ghost' or 'Holy Spirit') was the name of a charitable institution, originating in France, which cared for the poor and needy.

In the Dutch city of Leiden, the Heilige Geest was responsible for regular distribution of food, clothing, and small amounts of coin money.

The names of the respective institutions were also joined in the unwieldy designation Heilige Geest- of Arme Wees en Kinderhuis.

The institution became a foundation in 1979 now known as Stichting Heilige Geest- of Arme Wees- en Kinderhuis te Leiden, caring for the poor and destitute youth in a wider sense.

At the end of the twentieth century, to further promote the study of its history, the foundation commissioned a new inventory of the archives of the Holy Ghost Orphanage, which dates back to the fourteenth century, as well as a study of the building history and the realization of the score of the Music for Christmas 1796 composed by Christian Friedrich Ruppe for the mixed youth choir of the orphanage.