Oudewater

The origin of the name Oudewater is not known. It is most likely a corruption of 'old (river) banks'. It originated around 1100 in a meander bend where the Lange Linschoten meets the Hollandsche IJssel.

Due to its location on the border of Holland and Sticht (Utrecht), Oudewater was an important border fortress. The city was granted city rights around 1265 by the 38th bishop of Utrecht - Hendrik van Vianden. The fledgling city initially belonged to Sticht, but that had to be relinquished to the County of Holland in 1280. In 1401, the city was besieged in the context of the Arkelse Wars (1401-1412). Later, Oudewater was in the province of South Holland. It was only when the provincial borders were revised in 1970 that Oudewater returned to Utrecht after nearly 700 years.

On July 19, 1572, Oudewater participated with eleven other cities in the First Free States Assembly in Dordrecht. In this assembly, the basis was laid for the State of the Netherlands under the 'leadership' of the House of Orange. In response, the city was exterminated by a Spanish army on August 7, 1575; according to tradition, only three inhabitants survived this massacre, known as "the Oudewater Murders."

In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Oudewater was an important producer of rope. The surrounding area produced the raw material hemp. The inhabitants of the town are still called Geelbuiken (Yellow Bellies) today, because the rope makers wrapped yellowish dried hemp fibers around their waists. Oudewater still has a rope factory and a rope museum.

Oudewater has many monuments. The city center has largely been declared a protected cityscape and has 128 municipal monuments and 141 national monuments. Since 2003, a bust of Swiebertje, the vagabond from the NCRV television series, has stood in Oudewater, unveiled by the actor who played this role: Joop Doderer. Many exterior shots for the series were actually made in the town and surrounding area.

The Waag of Oudewater is also known as the witch's weighing house, because from the 16th to the 18th century, people accused of witchcraft were weighed here. Today, the Waag is a tourist attraction where a certificate can be obtained stating that the weighed person is not too light and thus not a witch. The visitor then receives a Certificaet of Weginghe.

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