Tradition / Region: Dutch (Zuiderzee, Volendam)
Alternate Names: —
Category: Horse / Water Spirit
The Myth
Along the shores of the Zuiderzee near Volendam, it was said that a creature called the Waterveulen would sometimes rise from the sea. It appeared as a young horse, its body slick with seawater, its hooves shining as if made of wet stone. At dusk or in the quiet of evening, it would walk along the shoreline, watching the land from the edge of the waves.
The Waterveulen was said to take an interest in a young maiden known for her beauty. From the sea, it brought her gifts: small fish and offerings gathered from the water. The girl accepted these gifts, and over time she grew accustomed to the creature’s presence, meeting it again and again at the shore.
One day, the maiden mounted the Waterveulen. At once, it turned and ran into the sea, carrying her with it beneath the waves. The people watching from the shore saw the two disappear into the water and were never seen again.
From that time on, the Waterveulen was remembered as a being that emerged from the sea to lure humans away, leaving only the sound of the waves behind.
Interpretive Lenses
Religious Readings
- Christian Ascetic Deep Dive
- Fajia Deep Dive
Philosophical Readings
- Nietzschean Deep Dive
Psychological Readings
- Jungian Deep Dive
Esoteric Deep Dive
- Hermetic Deep Dive
Political / Social Readings
- Marxist Deep Dive
Other
- How to Invite This Spirit