Dutch Flame Mythology

Blauwbroek

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Tradition: Dutch Mythology
Alternative Names: Blue Breeches
Category: Flame

The Myth

The Blauwbroek is a mysterious ghost from the Dutch province of Gelderland, said to wander across the heath in the form of a glowing sheaf of thatch. By day, it becomes a large, invisible spectre, capable of interfering with travellers despite remaining unseen. It can abruptly push people off the road without warning and even bring horses to a complete standstill, leaving those who encounter it helpless before an invisible force.

According to local tradition, the spirit was once a land surveyor or an arsonist, though the precise origin of the figure remains uncertain. Its name, meaning “Blue Breeches,” is probably derived from the little blue flame associated with its appearance, which resembles a pair of trousers. The Blauwbroek thus combines the eerie imagery of a wandering fire with the frightening idea of an unseen spirit that can obstruct people and animals along the road.

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/

Hellewagen

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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

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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

“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/

Ouwe Beer

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Tradition: Dutch Mythology
Alternative Names: –
Category: Flame

The Myth

Ouwe Beer is the name for a Dwaallichtje.

During his life, he was a farmer who moved the boundary stones and thereby stole land from his neighbors. He was also said to have made a pact with the devil.

When he died, his coffin was too light, but when it was placed on the hearse, it was suddenly too heavy. He must wander eternally as a ball of fire or a weak, flickering light. During the day, he hides in a hollow tree.

Sources

Abe de Verteller. (2014). Van aardmannetje tot zwarte juffer: Een lijst van Nederlandse en Vlaamse elfen en geesten. In AbeDeVerteller.nl, from https://abedeverteller.nl/van-aardmannetje-tot-zwarte-juffer-een-lijst-van-nederlandse-en-vlaamse-elfen-en-geesten/

Dwaallicht

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Tradition: Dutch Mythology
Alternative Names: –
Category: Flame

The Myth

The Dwaallicht is a mysterious wandering light that appears at night, floating above the ground or over water. It may appear as a single flame or as several lights, glowing white, yellow, green, or blue. Blue Dwaallichten are said to reveal the locations of hidden treasures, tempting those who encounter them to follow their flickering glow into the darkness.

These wandering flames are commonly believed to be the souls of criminals or unbaptized children, doomed to roam the places where they committed their crimes or where they perished. They often appear above marshes, pools, and other bodies of water, where they hop and dance toward unsuspecting travellers, leading them astray until they become lost or drown. A wanderer may release a trapped soul by baptizing it, allowing it to find peace. However, they may suddenly be surrounded by a thousand more lights seeking baptism, forcing them to continue until dawn.

The Dwaallicht possesses other strange powers and meanings. It is said that a person can become invisible by rubbing themselves with the fat of these little flames. The lights may also appear as omens of future construction, heralding the place where a house will later be built or where a canal or railway will eventually run.

Sources

Abe de Verteller. (2014). Van aardmannetje tot zwarte juffer: Een lijst van Nederlandse en Vlaamse elfen en geesten. In AbeDeVerteller.nl, from https://abedeverteller.nl/van-aardmannetje-tot-zwarte-juffer-een-lijst-van-nederlandse-en-vlaamse-elfen-en-geesten/

Barlemanje

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Tradition: Dutch Mythology
Alternative Names: Barele Man, Brandend Manje, Brandend Zeigertje
Category: Flame

The Myth

The Barlemanje is a mysterious fire spirit from Holland, appearing as a small ball of fire or a wandering light. It travels from place to place as a glowing flame, an eerie sight in the darkness.

The Barlemanje is known for pursuing people who encounter it. According to tradition, someone being chased by this fiery apparition could escape by throwing a handkerchief onto the ground. The Barlemanje would then settle upon the handkerchief, allowing the pursued person to get away.

Sources

Abe de Verteller. (2014). Van aardmannetje tot zwarte juffer: Een lijst van Nederlandse en Vlaamse elfen en geesten. In AbeDeVerteller.nl, from https://abedeverteller.nl/van-aardmannetje-tot-zwarte-juffer-een-lijst-van-nederlandse-en-vlaamse-elfen-en-geesten/

Blauw Vuurtje

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Tradition / Region: Dutch Mythology
Alternate Names: —
Category: Flame

The Myth

In the quiet places of Limburg and the Veluwe, small blue flames are said to appear at night. These are the Blauw Vuurtje, fire-elves that drift silently above the earth.

They hover only where treasures lie hidden beneath the ground. Their light is soft but unwavering, marking the spot for those who know how to read the signs. Yet the treasure is not meant for everyone.

Only a person of pure heart may dig where the blue flame floats. He must also know how to keep silent, for a single spoken word will cause the Blauw Vuurtje to vanish at once. If the flame disappears, the earth closes its secret again, and the treasure is lost forever.

Thus the blue fire waits patiently, glowing in the darkness, revealing riches only to the worthy and the wordless.

Sources

Abe de Verteller. (2014). Van aardmannetje tot zwarte juffer: Een lijst van Nederlandse en Vlaamse elfen en geesten. In AbeDeVerteller.nl, from https://abedeverteller.nl/van-aardmannetje-tot-zwarte-juffer-een-lijst-van-nederlandse-en-vlaamse-elfen-en-geesten/