Hendrika Hofhuis

Hendrika Hofhuis (1780–1849), was a Dutch woman, famous for being put on trial for witchcraft in 1823. She was the last person to be charged with such a crime in the Netherlands.

Life

Hofhuis was born to a farmer and married to a farmer in Deldenerstraat Broek. In 1823, she contacted the authorities and demanded to be tried by water for witchcraft, in order to clear her name for the rumours of sorcery that were circulating about her. She had been turned away from a sick child's bed because she was said to be responsible. The rumours had increased to such a degree that her own children suspected her.

The ordeal by water was by tradition able to clear a person suspected of sorcery by a demonstration that she could not float on water. The authorities approved her demand and referred to the fact that the accused had initiated to be tried by ordeal for witchcraft on her own accord. She invited the whole village to witness the ordeal. During the ordeal, she sunk below the water, and thereby cleared herself from all suspicions.

The case attracted great attention in contemporary European press and literature.