Editing Oudewater (section)

== Buildings ==
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[[File:Oudewater-Waag.jpg|thumb|left|The [[weigh house]] in 2012]]

Oudewater is famous for the ''Heksen[[waag]]'' ([[Witchcraft|Witch]]es' [[Weighing scale|scales]]). The weighing house, an official town building, became famous at the height of the [[Witch trials in the early modern period#Peak of the trials: 1560–1630|European witch trials]] of the 16th century because people accused of [[witchcraft]] were offered a fair chance to prove their innocence, unlike in many other places, where the scales were rigged. 

From all over Europe, people made the journey to Oudewater to avoid prosecution. After the weighing, they received an official certificate proclaiming them not a witch. Nobody was ever found to be an actual witch in Oudewater, though the weighings were still a public spectacle. Certificates would state that "the body weight is in proportion to its build". The reasoning behind this is the old belief that a witch has no soul and therefore weighs significantly less than an ordinary person; this distinction would supposedly allow the witch to fly on a broomstick. 
[[File:Oudewater, stadszicht met kerk2 2009-04-13 16.53.JPG|thumb|left|View to the town]]
The weighings can be seen as a sign of the growing power of the citizenry as a third force next to that of the church and nobility. In giving out these certificates, the citizens of Oudewater, therefore, were defying the church.

The Waag is still open as a tourist attraction, and official certificates are available. 

The town hall dates from 1588 and features a stork's nest. Oudewater has a monumental protected city centre with more than 250 protected houses. The church, now [[Protestant]], dates from the 15th century. Its tower is from about 1300. During the religious wars, until the sacking of Oudewater, both [[Roman Catholic]]s and Protestants used this church. Thereafter Catholics were still tolerated (the Spanish occupiers being Catholic) but more in low profile.