Tradition: Dutch Mythology
Alternative Names: Pygmies, Keutelduimke, Little Thumb
Category: Dwarf
The Myth
The Pygmeentjes were malformed dwarfs with hunched backs who were highly skilled in magic. They were not inherently good or evil, and could either help people or cause them harm. Their supernatural abilities also allowed them to transform themselves into a horsefly.
A horsefly buzzing persistently around someone was therefore considered a bad sign, for it could be a Pygmeentje in disguise. These strange dwarfs belonged to the magical world of Dutch folklore, where their powers could be used for either benevolent or malicious purposes.
Sources
“Aardmannetje tot zwarte juffer: een lijst van Nederlandse en Vlaamse elfen en geesten.” Abe de Verteller. Accessed October 4, 2026.
https://abedeverteller.nl/van-aardmannetje-tot-zwarte-juffer-een-lijst-van-nederlandse-en-vlaamse-elfen-en-geesten/