Tradition: Dutch Mythology, Belgian Mythology
Alternative Names: Spookwagen, Hell Wagon
Category: Flame
The Myth
The Hellewagen, or Spookwagen, is a terrifying ghostly carriage that races through the night between midnight and one o’clock. It is drawn by black or invisible horses and sometimes travels through the air, accompanied by a deafening, hellish rumble. Inside the carriage, blood-red lights illuminate its interior, while its spectral coachman glows and spits fire. The entire vehicle shines with an ominous supernatural light as it thunders through the darkness.
The Hellewagen is said to be the punishment of wealthy sinners who exploited and oppressed the common people. In one tale, a late-night wanderer heard the carriage approaching with a tremendous clatter. Yet when it drew near, it suddenly vanished, only to reappear a few metres farther along the road. The apparition is believed to be the restless spirit of a dissolute nobleman, condemned to ride eternally through the night in his blazing carriage.
Sources
“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/