Dymphna is a Christian saint honoured in Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions. According to tradition, she lived in the 7th century and was martyred by her father.
The beheading of Saint Dymphna by Godfried Maes
Martyrdom of St Dymphna and St Gerebernus by Jacques de l'Ange
St. Dymphna Church, Geel, Belgium
Geel is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp, which acquired city status in the 1980s. It comprises Central-Geel which is constituted of 4 old parishes a/o towns: Sint-Amand, Sint-Dimpna, Holven and Elsum. Further on around the center are the parish-towns of Ten Aard (N), Bel (E), Winkelomheide (SE), Stelen, Oosterlo and Zammel (S), Punt (SW) and Larum (W). In 2021, Geel had a total population of 40,781. The total area is 109.85 km2 (42 sq mi). Geel’s patron saint, the Irish Saint Dymphna, inspired the town’s pioneering de-institutionalized method of care for the mentally ill.
The 'Markt' in Geel with the Church of Sint-Amands
Geel train station