Tradition / Region: Netherlands (Brabant; Utrecht)
Alternate Names: —
Category: Water spirit / wolf
The Myth
The Waterwolf is a spirit said to haunt rivers, lakes, and flooded lowlands. It appears in the shape of a wolf, but its body is covered in scales rather than fur. Algae, moss, and water plants cling to its skin, marking it as a creature that belongs wholly to the water.
The Waterwolf moves silently and with great speed, gliding through the water by means of two large fins. It is rarely heard or seen before it strikes. According to legend, it lurks near the water’s edge, waiting for children who wander too close.
When it attacks, the Waterwolf seizes its victims and drags them beneath the surface, pulling them into the depths. Through these stories, the Waterwolf is remembered as a dangerous water spirit, embodying the hidden threats of rivers and wetlands and the fear of what moves unseen beneath the water.