Ode to the witch

Everyone knows what a witch looks like. An old woman in a long black dress, with a black pointed hat, huge nose with a pimple and, of course, her trusty broomstick. If you’re not careful she’ll turn you into a toad or worse as she flies cackling over the houses. A little witch can turn into a black cat, so she also brings bad luck. Especially at this time of year, you come across them more often. Many young girls choose to dress up as witches during Halloween. But what exactly are witches and do they also occur in the Netherlands?

Children and witches

Even children grow up with witches. First in fairy tales in which innocent children are put in an oven by a witch who lives in a candy house. Later they are read from Little Witch Lilly, the child reads about the Hopeless Witch himself and later is captivated by Harry Potter, who of course is nothing but a male witch. But very early on, people were scared to death of witches. Therefore, the witch had to die. But what was the deal?

The history of witchcraft

All of Europe was under the spell of witches in the period between 1450 and 1720. So was sober Holland. But what exactly is a witch and how was it done in those days? This October we take you into the history of witchcraft.

What exactly is a witch?

A witch in earlier times was a person who possessed dark magic powers. Both women and men could be witches, although 80% were women. A witch possessed evil magic with which she could impose her will on innocent people. In reality, most “witches” were poor, helpless women around 60. There was no looking beyond fear in those days and many confessions followed after painful torture.

In Europe, between 30,000 and 60,000 witches were killed, mostly at the stake. In the Netherlands, there were relatively few victims. “Only” 250 witches were burned at the stake, although of course not all the figures of the time are known.

How was it determined that you were a witch?

See, that’s an interesting question. Witches really didn’t fly around day after day on broomsticks with a black cat on their necks. But what did a witch meet? We asked Museum de Heksenwaag in Gouda. The Witches’ Waag in Oudewater, near Gouda, was used since the 15th century to determine whether someone was a witch or not.

Someone of a certain weight or heavier, of course, could not possibly stay on a broom without crashing out of the sky. Emperor Charles V in the 17th century privileged this place for a fair weighing process. And you probably guessed it: no one was convicted after visiting the weighhouse.

Why was the Waag the only real weighing house?

There were several waag in the Netherlands, but everyone just did whatever when it came to weight. The Waagenwaag in Oudewater was the only one in the Netherlands that met the standard. That is why Emperor Charles V chose this scales as the fair trial scales. The original scales of the scales are from 1482 and they still work. Today the scales are even on the Unesco World Heritage list. You really should check that one out if you’re in the area.

Immediate shopping

While you’re in the Gouda area, you might as well go shopping right away. And don’t forget to buy a stroopwafel, you know, one of those big still-warm waffles. Or stroll around Gouda’s Cheese Market with a view of the Old Town Hall. By the way, you’ll find beautiful monumental buildings all over Gouda.

Modern witches

You would think that there are no witches nowadays but that is not true. Witches do exist in the Netherlands although they are absolutely not recognizable as the prototype witch from the fairy tale books. Witches are people just like you and me. They are just more at one with nature. Some even get herbal medicines from nature and draw power from gemstones such as quartz, amethyst and crystal.

Credits photos: www.canva.com

This blog was created editorially in conjunction with some of our partners. Would you like to be kept up to date with our blogs and contests? Then sign up for our newslettertoday or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.