The Flying Dutchman and Other Folktales from the Netherlands

Copyright © 2008 by Theo Meder

The farmers of Reiderland were the richest farmers of Groningen. The richest of them all was Tidde Winnenga.

One day a severe storm was rising. Everybody worked to strengthen the dike, except Tidde. His farm stood on higher ground, so he didn't worry.

The neighbours urged him to help; the entire land was in great danger .. Tidde Winnenga was stubborn. He would not leave his farm, he said, until the water on his land was six feet high.

The dike broke, and the sea washed away the entire Reiderland. This is how the Dollard came into being.

In the middle of the night a man knocked at the door of the monastery Palmar, which was spared from the flood. A tall bowed figure asked for bread and shelter. Not for one night, but for good.

It was Tidde Winnenga, who had lost all he had.

There was room for him at the monastery, and they gave him food and lodging for as long as he lived.

This legend is known as folktale type SINSAG 1174, Kleine Ursache, grosse Wirkung (small. cause, large consequence), and was collected by K. ter Laan in the province of Groningen. The translation is based on E. de Jong and P. Klaasse, Sagen en Legenden van de Lage Landen (Bussum, 1980), p. 54.