Tradition / Region: Dutch Mythology
Alternative names: Capirissa, Tapirussa
Category: Horse
The Myth
Capirussa is a legendary creature from the Dutch town of Brielle in South Holland. According to a chronicle written by the priest Taerling in 1600, the inhabitants of Brielle witnessed a strange monster emerging from the mouth of the River Meuse.
The creature was described as having the head of a woman, the ears and tail of a hunting dog, and the feet of a horse. At the time, it was said that such a being had previously only been seen in the Indies.
The marvelous creature became closely associated with Brielle and appeared as a supporter of the town’s coat of arms until 1816. It was later replaced in the heraldry by a centaur.
One tradition suggests that the name Capirussa may be a Latinized form of an older native water spirit known as the Roeschaart or Osschaart.
Sources
Abe van der Veen. (2014, July 8). Van aardmannetje tot zwarte juffer: Een lijst van Nederlandse en Vlaamse elfen en geesten. Abe de Verteller. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://abedeverteller.nl/van-aardmannetje-tot-zwarte-juffer-een-lijst-van-nederlandse-en-vlaamse-elfen-en-geesten/