A Copper Reminder of Justice
In Deventer, a city in the Netherlands, a large copper cauldron hangs on the Waag building. This cauldron, dating back to the Middle Ages, was used for executing counterfeiters by boiling them alive in oil. Counterfeiting was considered a severe crime, as it threatened the economy and trust in currency.
A Method of Execution
Those found guilty of making or circulating fake coins were subjected to this punishment in public. The cauldron was filled with oil, and the condemned were placed inside as a warning to others. This gruesome method was intended to deter criminals and maintain order.
The Cauldron’s Survival
The original cauldron remained in Deventer for centuries. By the early 19th century, during Napoleon’s occupation of the Netherlands, his soldiers reportedly pierced holes in it, either for practical reasons or to render it unusable. Despite this, it was preserved as a historical object.
In Deventer, a city in the Netherlands, a large copper cauldron hangs on the Waag building. This cauldron, dating back to the Middle Ages, was used for executing counterfeiters by boiling them alive in oil. Counterfeiting was considered a severe crime.🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/BfK37KxQa8
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) February 3, 2025