This hospital was opened on February 15, 1918 under the name Rijkskrankzinnigengesticht. Initially there were about 900 residents. Later the name was changed to Rijks Psychiatric Institution (R.P.I.) and later it was renamed De Grote Beek.
The prefix Rijks indicates that it also included a closed institution, where people made available stayed. Such an establishment is still present today under the name Woenselse Poort.
The original complex comprised a number of distinctive buildings, including the main building facing the street and the boiler house. The main building is strictly symmetrical and the middle part has a turret. In later times, various buildings and pavilions were added.
The former administration building, the chapel with foyer and the boiler house fall under the protection of a national monument, partly because of the neo-Renaissance style in which was built within the (predecessor of the) Government Buildings Agency at the time.
Estate
The site of the Grote Beek is extensive and is built on a former estate, called Vredeoord, which was developed from 1839 on a piece of dry heathland. It consists mainly of dry coniferous wood with some fens. There is also a large transformer station in the middle of the site that supplies the city of Eindhoven with electricity.
The site is now open. Walks have been set out and there are also activities for itinerant clients and the public. There are also gardens, a petting zoo, modern art, poems and the like.