Kardoes the Hellhound

The village of De Lutte in Overijssel, Netherlands, is home to the legend of the Kardoes, or the Hellehond (“hellhound”). Often haunting cemeteries, this infernal beast with pointy ears and glowing eyes is believed to be an omen of death, much like the black dog of British folklore.

Though of uncertain origin, the Kardoes is sometimes associated with the Norse god Odin and referred to as the Wodanshelper, perhaps a participant in the mythological Wild Hunt. Numerous local tales describe the Kardoes as a harbinger of injury, a reaper of recently departed souls, and bad luck incarnate.

The legendary creature, however, was all but forgotten when sculptor Pieter de Monchy created a statue of it in 1950. It has since become a symbol of the village, bringing local folklore back into focus, if not a major attraction that draws in crowds of tourists every day.