Step into the fascinating world of Museum de Heksenwaag. Here, the history of witch hunts and witchcraft from the 16th and 17th centuries literally comes to life. This unique weigh house in Oudewater offered accused witches a rare chance to prove their innocence. And that in a time of widespread persecution! Today, the museum not only tells the story of these historical injustices, but also draws powerful connections to modern issues such as exclusion, discrimination, and social judgment.
Learn all about the witch hunts and witchcraft in the 16th and 17th centuries
Oudewater is just a 45-minute drive south of Amsterdam. But above all, it is home to one of the most fascinating small museums in the Netherlands.Witch trials in the Netherlands were not as large-scale or widespread as in other parts of Europe and North America. They were also nipped in the bud relatively early, while other countries were still accusing their citizens of witchcraft. Yet they still form an important part of Dutch history, and at the Witch Weighing House, you can delve into this gruesome chapter of the country’s past.
It is housed in a beautiful, traditional Dutch weigh house and is without a doubt one of the most picturesque museums around. You might wonder why it’s called “Het Heksenweeghuis.” That’s because of a strange belief people used to have about witches. People believed that witches were as light as a feather. So when people were accused of being witches, they were brought to the weigh house to verify this supposed trait. Clearly, weighing witches doesn’t work… But today you can still do what they used to do and put your dog on the scale instead.
After all, these types of weighing houses were used not only to weigh witches, but also to weigh livestock and goods . Thanks to the curious fact that Holy Roman Emperor Charles V approved this site as a fair weighing place, no one was ever sentenced to death here as a result of being weighed. You can learn a lot in this museum. Plus, it’s the perfect way to add a little Halloween spirit to your days!
