Tradition: Dutch Mythology
Alternative Names: Wild Man, Wilde Man
Category: Forest Dweller
The Myth
The Wildeman is a wild, powerful humanoid who lives alone in the depths of the forest. His entire body is covered in thick hair, and he behaves in a savage, uncontrolled manner. He usually wears little clothing, with an apron of oak leaves around his waist and a wreath of leaves around his head. In his hand, he carries a heavy club or an uprooted young tree, which serves as a weapon and a symbol of his immense strength. Despite his uncivilized appearance and wild behavior, the Wildeman is not necessarily evil and may possess a noble heart.
In an Overijssel fairy tale, the Wildeman is portrayed as an extraordinarily strong and uncivilized savage who lives alone in the woods. Despite his rough nature, he helps his brother marry a princess, demonstrating that kindness and loyalty can exist beneath his fearsome exterior. The Wildeman also appears in the sixteenth-century Dutch prose romance of Malegijs. In this tale, the enchantress Oriande discovers a Wildeman on an island. After she shaves him, he is revealed to be a handsome man. He eventually marries the fairy Crisiole in the mountain of the elves.
The Wildeman also appears in heraldry, where his powerful, untamed figure serves as a symbol on coats of arms. He is represented in the heraldic traditions of cities including Sneek, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Antwerp, and Bergen op Zoom. Occasionally, a wild woman appears alongside or in place of him. Through these stories and representations, the Wildeman embodies the untamed strength of the wilderness, while his occasional acts of loyalty and nobility reveal a more honorable nature beneath his savage appearance.
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/