Tradition: Dutch Mythology, Belgian Mythology
Alternative Names: Meltevrouw, Barende Vrouw, Varende Vrouw, Dolvrouw, Bontevrouw, Windsbruid, Winddrolle
Category: Ghost
The Myth
The Houwvrouw is a mysterious female wind spirit said to appear on hot summer days above the Afferdsche heath in Limburg. She can be seen in the shimmering waves of heated air, twisting and spinning as she travels through the sky. As she moves, she carries away everything light enough to be swept up by the wind. After her journey, she rests in an underground dwelling belonging to Aart with the Grey Beard, king of the gnomes, and Wieland the Smith, king of the little elves.
In Belgian Limburg, the Houwvrouw is described as a powerful storm wind that uproots and overturns sheaves of grain, carrying them several metres into the air. Her appearance may take the form of a sudden downpour, a whirlwind, or a swirling gust of wind that sweeps across the land. Farmers fear the destruction she can cause as she tears through fields and scatters their harvest.
The names Houwvrouw and Meltevrouw both mean “marrying woman.” One explanation suggests that people may have interpreted the wind as a sign of a marriage between heaven and earth, as it rises into the sky before descending again. In this way, the Houwvrouw embodies the mysterious and destructive power of the wind, appearing as a supernatural woman whose passage can transform a peaceful summer landscape into a swirling storm.
Sources
Van der Veen, Abe. “Van aardmannetje tot zwarte juffer: Een lijst van Nederlandse en Vlaamse elfen en geesten.” Abe de Verteller. https://abedeverteller.nl/van-aardmannetje-tot-zwarte-juffer-een-lijst-van-nederlandse-en-vlaamse-elfen-en-geesten/