Jan Palfijn Hospital in Ghent was founded at the beginning of the 20th century by a number of freethinkers with tentacles reaching deep into the social fabric. Some 50 investors raised the initial capital to build and equip this rather small hospital. At that time, healthcare was still deeply rooted in the clergy, and they wanted to break away from it.

In the beginning, the hospital primarily engaged in surgical activities and also had a maternity ward. Later, an outpatient clinic was established. More than 90 years after its founding, the hospital merged with another, larger hospital, necessitating a search for a new and spacious location.