Waag, Oudewater, Medieval weigh house and museum in Oudewater, Netherlands
The Waag is a weigh house and museum in Oudewater that contains weighing equipment and measuring instruments dating back to the 15th century. The building displays the original large scales used to weigh goods and people over many generations, along with various historical tools and documents related to the facility's operations.
The house was founded in the 15th century to ensure fair measurement results and combat commercial fraud. It later became a place where rational evidence was prioritized over witch trial accusations, particularly during Europe's intense period of witch hunts.
The building served as a place of trust for residents who came to have their goods and themselves weighed fairly over many centuries. It stands today as a symbol of how one institution protected justice by prioritizing rational measurement over fear.
The location is easily accessible on foot and open to visitors who wish to see the historic scales and exhibitions. You can be weighed on the original equipment while visiting and receive a weight certificate as a souvenir.
During the worst period of witch hunts, this building became a refuge for accused people who could be weighed to prove their innocence. It remains the only known place in Europe where this method was systematically used to protect people from conviction.
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