The Catherine Hospice – now Museum Gouda– was the only hospital in town during the middle ages, The plague made many victims, also in Gouda. Catherina, Erasmus’ mother, succumbed to the plague during her stay in Deventer, where Erasmus and his brother Pieter were studying. Subsequently, both brothers returned to Gouda to be with their father, who passed away soon after.

The three appointed guardians seemed to be more interested in the family fortune than in the care of the two boys. Erasmus eventually entered the monastery of Stein.