A (Reverse) Witch Trial in Winterswijk

In the late medieval period, many unexplained phenomena were attributed to witchcraft. If a healthy child suddenly became ill or a cow would not give milk, the influence of witches was often suspected. Many people were persecuted and burned at the stake, particularly in the Southern Netherlands (current-day Belgium). By the 1600s, the hunt quieted down. The Enlightenment made people realize that there might well be scientific explanations for things that happened to them. Still, an accusation … [Read more...]