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Streets of Death

On a chilly morning on October 31, 1860, Johannes Nathan had a last look at the watery sun that just peeped through the clouds. Then the rope pushed his last breath out of his throat and everything went black.

Was his last thought with his mother-in-law that he had beaten to death on the road to Sittard? We will never know. We do know, however, that he was the last person in the Netherlands to be sentenced to death (periods of war not included). The death penalty was abolished in 1870...

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Reading Tip

Although the subject is horrifying, it is also a very interesting piece of history: torture. It was after all part of our ancestors life.

Some of them may have experienced it, most other would simply have feared it, and made sure they stayed out of trouble.

And almost all of them will have had a look at the public tortures and executions at the central market of their town.

If you wish to know more about the subject, you could consider reading one of these books:

The History of Torture and Execution

Infernal Device: Machinery of Torture and execution

If you happen to be in Amsterdam some day, you could also pay a visit to the Torture Museum.

Win A Free Book!

Every week we raffle off a nice prize among the readers who send in the right answer to a Dutch Ancestry question. This week's prize is a free copy of The History of Torture and Execution

Go and have a look at this week's question!

Do you know the right answer? Then send in the form before next Wednesday!

Maybe you will be the lucky winner of that free book!