De Heksenwaag

What's considered a bit of a joke now, used to be a matter of life and death in the Middle Ages. In the rural village of Oudewater, people from all over Europe used to be weighed on an enormous set of scales dating from 1482. These so-called 'fair weighing trials', which were authorised by Emperor Charles V as late as 1745, decided many a woman's fate. People accused of witchcraft would be weighed and then either sentenced to burn at the stake or found innocent. But after the scales came into use the death penalty was never again meted out. Unfortunately, for more than 50,000 Europeans the 'fair scales' were introduced too late. These days this is the largest tourist attraction in the area and visitors receive a certificate when weighed.