Tradition / Region: Dutch Mythology
Alternative names: Lampjeskat
Category: Cat
The Myth
The Lampkekatten (“Lamp Cat”) is a ghostly cat said to haunt the Bosplaat on the Dutch island of Ameland.
According to local tradition, whenever a ring appears around the moon, no islander dares venture onto the Bosplaat, for it is believed the Lampkekatten are roaming there. These spectral gray cats can grow as large as calves and possess enormous glowing eyes, as big as saucers.
Rather than attacking directly, the ghost cats chase travelers across the salt marshes and drive them toward the rising tide. Many, it is said, have fled in terror only to run into the sea and drown. The Lampkekatten are therefore regarded as deadly omens that lure the unwary to their deaths under the light of the moon.
Sources
Van der Veen, Abe J. “Van aardmannetje tot zwarte juffer: Een lijst van Nederlandse en Vlaamse elfen en geesten.” Abe de Verteller. Accessed July 28, 2026. https://abedeverteller.nl/van-aardmannetje-tot-zwarte-juffer-een-lijst-van-nederlandse-en-vlaamse-elfen-en-geesten/