Dutch ghost stories: Spirits, monsters and witches

The Netherlands and the netherworld are more closely connected than you may think! Beaches, fields and cities across the country are riddled with myths and whispers of the deceased who might still be roaming there. Here are some Dutch ghost stories to get you in the Halloween spirit. 

Ghost and spirits

These mysterious figures roam the alleyways and dark places of the Netherlands, ready to give a fright to those unwise enough to wander at night.

The Zeedijk ghost

A tanner’s daughter from Zeedijk named Dina was dating a young sailor, to the envy of her sister Helena. One day, when he was out at sea, the sisters fought viciously. In a flurry of anger, Helena pushed Dina down the basement stairs, beat her to death and threw the hatch shut. She got to marry the sailor instead of Dina, but Helena spent her years wracked with guilt.

She finally admitted to the murder on her deathbed, and the sailor turned away from her in disgust. She died miserable and alone. That very night, residents of the Zeedijk were aroused by chilling wails and raging howls. Lone wanderers in Zeedijk still encounter the lonely ghost of Helena from time to time, mostly on the aptly named Spooksteeg, or Ghost Alley. You’ll know she is near when cold shivers run down your back.

The third fisherman

Two men from Maastricht went fishing by night, near the Maas River. They found a small barge and sailed out. After a few hours of looking out over the dark waters and catching fish, one of the fishermen looked to the side and got such a shock that he bumped into his friend. The other man looked and turned ash-grey.

"Are you seeing that too?" one muttered.

"Yes I am," whispered the other.

But neither of them moved. They felt as if they were nailed down. At the front of the boat, a third fisherman was sitting with his rod cast out, his back towards them. The two fishermen stared at the surprise visitor, not even moving when they got a bite on their line.

After what seemed like ages, the church bells struck one. The third fisherman stood up, turned, and walked towards them. The first man hid his face in his hands, but the second one saw that the stranger’s face looked like it was spun from cobwebs. As he moved past them and stepped over the side, the boat never rocked.

The headless man

Again, this story takes place by the Maas River. One night, a merchant was waiting for a ferry. The oarsman refused to let him cross, saying the headless man was roaming the opposite shore. The merchant joked that without a head this man would have no teeth to bite him with and demanded to cross.

After crossing the river, the merchant continued on foot. He became aware of a gigantic dark shape by his side. It stopped when he stopped and moved when he moved. When he finally dared to face the shape, he saw a five-metre-tall man with broad shoulders and no head. He looked down, and two long horse legs clopped over the ground.

The merchant kept walking, staring straight ahead while the headless men walked by his side. Under his breath, he frantically muttered a prayer. As he finished the words, the headless man disappeared with a loud wail, leaving behind a hellish stink.

Monsters and demons

Not all who haunt were once human. The Netherlands has its fair share of monster and other-worldly creatures that you need to watch out for.

Blue Gerrit

Blue Gerrit is described as an invisible but ape-like spirit or demon who jumps on the shoulders of unsuspecting passers-by who are walking in rural areas. Sometimes, you can see his eyes shine, or a blue light appear in the bushes. He is heavy and smelly and wears travellers down, so that they are completely exhausted by the time they reach town.

Blue Gerrit's description is similar to that of a water spirit called the Ossaert. Sometimes the Ossaert is said to be a black beast with huge claws and burning red eyes.

Witte wieven

The Witte Wieven are among the more famous classic ghosts in Dutch folklore. The term translates as "white women", or "devious wise women" in older Dutch. These pale wraiths have long terrorised the people of western Europe, and have been described as ugly, old women with sharp teeth and claws wearing flowing white garments and veils.

There are stories of them having hidden treasures in caves or under burial mounds, stealing babies, dancing in the moonlight as wisps of fog and luring people to their deaths. One famous Dutch ghost story involving the Witte Wieven features them attacking a farmer in the woods, forcing himself to dance himself to death!

The Edam mermaid

This tale is more sad than scary. It is said that a mermaid was once caught near Edam. She spoke a strange language, and her hair was tangled and full of seaweed. Her captors dressed her, taught her to eat human food and showed her off, although she never stopped trying to dive back into the water.

The city of Haarlem, which was very powerful back then, demanded to have her. The town officials took her with them, taught her how to spin wool, and had her on display until the day she died.

Witches of the Netherlands

Tales of women with powers of good and evil abound through the Netherlands. Historical sexism or true magic? You decide...

The fortune-teller of Amsterdam

The Jordaan area of Amsterdam had its very own fortune teller, who went by the name of Aunty Cor, who would read people's future with her cards. She always asked to be paid in pawn receipts, so she would not need to identify herself at the bank. One day, Aunty Cor was visited by a man whose wife had been having fits of deliriousness, as if she was possessed. Aunty Cor told him that his wife had refused a wicked merchant’s wares and laughed at the man and that he was the one who had bewitched her.

Aunty Cor threw a powder into the flames of her stove, and the fire rose up. "There he is," she told the man, and sure enough he leaned forward to see a figure in the glow. "Go ahead and give him a good cut across the face, so you’ll recognise him later," Aunty Cor whispered, "He deserves it." The man took his pocketknife and slashed it through the flames. From then on, no doors were ever opened for the merchant again, for he had a deep, nasty red scar running from his ear to his mouth.

The horseshoed hag

A woman in Maastricht told her husband that a woman appeared by their bed every night, turned her into a horse and rode her until morning. She was exhausted and getting noticeably thinner. In other words, she was literally hag-ridden. That night, the husband swapped places with his wife in the bed and took care not to fall asleep.

Just before midnight, the door opened and a woman tiptoed in, holding a bridle and keeping to the shadows. The man jumped up, grabbed the bridle and threw it over the woman. She immediately turned into a grey mare. He led the horse to a smith and fitted the animal with four heavy iron horseshoes.

The horse escaped on the way back, but the next morning they noticed that their neighbour wouldn’t come outside. After three days, the police broke down her door and saw her lying on the bed with heavy horseshoes nailed to her hands and feet.

Halloween in the Netherlands

Truly terrifying! Looking for inspiration for ways to celebrate this Halloween in the Netherlands? Check out our ultimate guide to doing Halloween the Dutch way or perhaps visit one of the many haunted places in the Netherlands!

Have you ever seen a ghost before? Share your story with us in the comments below!