The Pepergasthuis was founded in 1405, by Berneer Solleder and his son Albert. Originally it served as a guest house for pilgrims who came to Groningen, as the Martinikerk kept a relic of John the Baptist that attracted many pilgrims to Groningen. Because of that destination the guest house was named after Gertrude of Nivelles, the patron of the travellers. But the guest house had financial problems, so people like Pope Sixtus IV donated money. Menso Jeltema donated estates, but wanted the guest house to give a ton of herring to the poor people of the village of Faan every year.
