Oudewater: Rope-Making Tradition and Historic Town Centre

Oudewater combines the history of weighing and rope-making with a protected historic town centre. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Oudewater, these highlights can help you plan: museums exploring history and crafts, medieval buildings, and paths along the river and through the countryside. The places and activities vary in whether you can explore stories, experience crafts through the senses, or discover Oudewater on foot and from the water.

Museums exploring history and crafts

The De Heksenwaag Museum explores the history of witch trials in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. Emperor Charles V granted Oudewater the privilege of a fair weighing procedure, making it the only city in Europe with this privilege. Visitors can be weighed on the original scales and receive a Certificaet van Weginghe. Check the current access and booking arrangements before your visit.

Rope-making takes centre stage at the Touwmuseum. Visitors can smell, feel and taste rope, and make it themselves. The museum explains the traditional manufacturing process, from the first steps to the ropewalk: roasting, breaking, combing and spinning are all part of it. While De Heksenwaag presents a historic weighing privilege and its history, the Touwmuseum connects the rope-making tradition with a sensory experience of the material and its manufacture.

Historic town centre and buildings

Oudewater’s historic town centre was designated a protected townscape in 1977 because of its rich history. Stadsmuseum Oudewater is housed in the monumental historic town hall. It includes the council chamber and the wedding hall. The wedding hall displays a painting from the mid-17th century depicting the so-called “Oudewaterse moord” of 1575. Also on display at Stadsmuseum Oudewater is a unique medieval foundation technique that cannot be seen anywhere else in the Netherlands.

The Grote Kerk, also known as Sint-Michaëlskerk, has a distinctive saddleback tower dating from the 14th century. In the Middle Ages, the tower served as a fortification. The tower can be climbed on a guided tour, and from the top there are views across Oudewater and the surrounding Groene Hart. The church building thus brings together architectural history and a guided viewpoint.

The Gerard David Buitenmuseum also combines art with a route through the town centre: reproductions of paintings by Gerard David are displayed throughout the historic centre. The Buitenmuseum route is free and accessible at any time.

Rope-making history, the river and routes

The 31-kilometre Geelbuikenroute tells the story of Oudewater’s rope industry, from hemp to rope. Along the way, it passes hemp fields, the Touwfabriek and the Lange Linschoten. The stated distance helps you gauge the length of this tour; it does not specify how long it takes or how difficult it is.

The Hollandse IJsselpad passes through Oudewater and connects medieval towns along the Hollandsche IJssel. The walking stages are each about 11 kilometres long. Its own waymarking and clear starting and ending points in the towns give the route a recognisable structure. The Hollandse IJsselroute Oudewater takes a different approach: it follows the Hollandsche IJssel and returns via the long, atmospheric Tiendweg through the farming countryside. The routes therefore have different focuses—the IJsselpad connects towns along the river, while the Oudewater route also includes a return through the farming countryside.

A whisper-boat trip on the “Geelbuik”, with a guide on board, offers insights into Oudewater’s history and cultural heritage from the water. As availability may vary by season, check the current sailing dates in advance. Those interested in practical craft techniques can learn the basics of basket weaving with willow and rattan at workshops by De Broedkorf in Oudewater. It is advisable to enquire in advance about current dates and booking options. TIP Oudewater offers walking and cycling routes, road and waterway maps, as well as town maps.

Discover more destinations: Oudewater, Papekop, Woerden, Rhenen, Renswoude, Stichtse Vecht, Baarn, Amersfoort

For the overview of destinations in the wider region: Utrecht.