Education
Born in Bruges, de Damhouder studied law in Leuven and Orléans.
Born in Bruges, de Damhouder studied law in Leuven and Orléans.
His writings had a lasting influence on European criminal law. After obtaining his doctorate in 1533, he practiced law as an advocate in Bruges. In 1537 he was appointed legal advisor of the city authorities, from which office he retired in 1550 to become clerk of the urban criminal court.
The most immediate impact of de Damhouder"s works was on the witch trials of the time, in which the Praxis rerum criminalium and its translations were cited regularly as fundamental works.
De Damhouder expanded on this by providing detailed practical advice (backed up by examples from his own court practice) on how to conduct interrogations of suspected witches under torture. These included, for example, the recommendation to shave off all hair and to inspect all orifices of the suspect, in order to uncover hidden magical amulets that would make the wearer withstand torture.
In 1552 he was made a member of the Council of Finance by Mary of Hungary, governor of the Habsburg Netherlands, and held that office until 1575.