Tradition: Dutch Mythology
Alternative Names: Blauw Garrit, Blue Gerrit
Category: Ghost
The Myth
Blauwe Gerrit, whose name means Blue Gerrit, is a mysterious spirit from Gelderland in the Netherlands. He is known for invisibly climbing onto carts and horses, preventing them from moving forward. When he reveals himself, he is described as having glowing eyes and wearing a fluttering, luminous blue cloak that makes him a striking and unsettling apparition.
Despite his frightening appearance, Blauwe Gerrit can act as a protector of the vulnerable. In one tale, a young girl was threatened with abduction by a predatory knight. Blauwe Gerrit secretly climbed onto the knight’s horse, causing the animal to refuse to move no matter how much the rider tried to make it go forward. Eventually, the knight dismounted to investigate. At that moment, Blauwe Gerrit leapt onto the knight’s neck, rendering him completely unable to move.
The spirit forced the knight to remain outside in the freezing cold for the entire night, giving the girl an opportunity to escape. The story portrays Blauwe Gerrit as a supernatural figure who uses his strange power over horses and people to obstruct wrongdoing and protect those in danger.
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/