European Ghosts Netherlands

Bullebak, the Dutch Water Monster

The Netherlands is full of canals, rivers, and lakes and often these can be a danger to children. Parents created Bullebak, the terrifying creature who lived in the canals. He could be a huge monster with claws and glowing eyes or a troll-like figure lurking just under the surface. The frightening message was that if you leaned too far over the water or played at the edge of the canal, the Bullebak would leap out and drag you under.

Visit Amsterdam and walk across the Bullebak Bridge near Berouwersgracht and see what you see when you look deep into the water.

Beware the Ghostly Hound

In the province of Groningen in the north of the Netherlands, legend has it that you might encounter the Borries, a black dog roaming the marshes with a curly coat and very large head. Its dark eyes whine eerily in the moonlight. Not like an ordinary dog, but this one moves in an unusual gait, using its two left legs simultaneously with each step.

Encounters with the Borries are a bad omen that often signals misfortune or death.

Paranormal Activity

The Castle Doornenburg is an impressive medieval fortress with a history dating back to the 9th century.

Visitors here have encountered a lady wearing white roaming the halls, who is believed to be the ghostly apparition of a nun who once lived here. Unexplained footsteps can be heard, and eerie noises and cold spots can be felt.

Meet the Ghost of Helena

Spooksteeg, or Ghost Alley, is situated in the famous Red Light District in Amsterdam.

The alley got its name due to a love story. In the 18th century, a woman named Helena lived in the Spooksteeg with her father and sister Dina. When a handsome sailor fell in love with Dina, Helena was jealous. The sisters were daughters of a tanner, and it was in the cellar that Helena threw Dina. Everyone thought that the death of Dina was an accident, and the sailor married Helena. On her deathbed in 1753, she confessed to what she had done and begged forgiveness. However, her husband refused and wished for the eternal suffering of her soul. Some years later, the ghostly apparition of Helena started appearing in the alley, and the sounds of screaming and moaning could be heard. Every hundred years on her death day, the 24th of July, her screaming could be heard.

The White Lady of the Broken Castle

Situated in the village of Grubbenvorst is the ruin of a castle once known as Castle Grebbe. The castle was demolished around 1958 during the Eighty Years’ War. Today there are only two broken towers and a wall.

Two hostel owners had a daughter named Gertrude. One day a knight, who was on the run, needed a place to hide. Her parents welcomed him in their hostel. The knight fell in love with Gertrude, and her parents told her to accept his love.

However, Gertrude had accepted another man’s marriage proposal as well as that of the son of a smith. The knight was furious and got into an argument with both men. At this time, the son of the smith struck the knight with a rock, and this proved fatal to the knight, who cursed the girl, told her to die, and to wander the ruins for eternity.

After the knight died, Gertrude got very ill and passed away. She was buried in a white robe, and so the haunting by the lady in white began. She is seen as the guardian of the town and honored every year with a festival in October known as the White Lady Festival.