Hellewagen

October 11, 2026 by cazzy99

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/

Glène Kerel

October 11, 2026 by cazzy99

Tradition: Dutch Mythology, Belgian Mythology
Alternative Names: De Gloeiige (Engelsman), Gloeiende Gerrit, Gleunigen, Glende Kerels, Sjoufert
Category: Flame

The Myth

The Glène Kerel, also known as the Gloeiende Gerrit or Sjoufert, is a fiery ghostly figure condemned to burn because of a curse he brought upon himself during his lifetime. He usually appears as a living flame, but may also take the form of a blazing ball of fire, a fiery projectile, or a burning bundle of straw or thatch. The spirit is often said to have once been an unjust land surveyor, an arsonist, a thief, or a murderer. Many had sworn false oaths, declaring that they would burn forever if they were lying. After their deaths, these words became their eternal punishment.

The Glène Kerel wanders through the darkness as a burning apparition, frightening travellers and responding to those who call or whistle for him. Anyone who summons the fiery figure and then flees may discover a blackened handprint burned into their door the following morning. The spirit’s punishment is not limited to wandering the roads, however. During autumn, the fiery men are said to descend from the sky and scourge chimneys with burning chains. Sometimes they enter houses themselves, striking sinners with their chains and leaving painful burn marks as a sign of their supernatural punishment.

In Venlo, tradition held that the community had to provide the fiery man each year with a cartload of sand, several pairs of tin shoes, and seven and a half stuivers. These offerings formed part of the local relationship with the dangerous spirit, whose blazing appearance and burning chains made him a feared presence in the region.

Sources

Sjoufert

October 11, 2026 by cazzy99

Tradition: Belgian Mythology
Alternative Names: Sjoferik, Schoferik, Schofet, Schoverd, Schoefer, Brandende Schoof
Category: Flame

The Myth

The Sjoufert is a terrifying supernatural apparition from Belgian Limburg folklore, appearing as a great ball of fire or a blazing human figure. It is often said to be the restless spirit of a man who moved a boundary stone to steal land from his neighbour. Such a man was sometimes believed to have sworn that he would burn if he had ever moved the stone, and after death his oath became a terrible reality. Condemned to wander as a fiery being, he haunts the landscape where his dishonesty brought him damnation.

Like a will-o’-the-wisp, the Sjoufert attempts to lead travellers astray, drawing them away from familiar paths with its glowing appearance. It is particularly dangerous to those who whistle in the darkness, for the sound attracts the spirit and causes it to approach. Anyone who fails to flee quickly enough risks being burned by the apparition until nothing remains but ashes.

Those who manage to escape and reach home safely may still discover a frightening sign of the encounter the following morning: a blackened handprint burned into the doorpost. The mark serves as a reminder that the Sjoufert’s fiery pursuit can reach beyond the lonely roads and into the lives of those unfortunate enough to cross its path.