It's the witching season, and Museum Catharijneconvent in Utrecht has dedicated a temporary exhibition to just this theme. Catharijneconvent focuses on the preservation of Dutch christian art and history, so witchcraft may seem a strange subject. But it's really not, if you realize that a lot of information about witchcraft in the Middle Ages and … Continue reading ‘Bruegel’s Witches’ exhibition in Utrecht
New this month – September & October 2015
Pfff, what a season...lots of work, and going out with a bang (i.e. sickness). Slowly coming back, and sorting my life out. Meanwhile, this little site is steadily growing. Added Temple of Kessel to the Sacred and Magical places page. Added Mugwort and Lily-of-the-Valley to the Flora page. More information about Hercules Magusanus. New folk … Continue reading New this month – September & October 2015
New book on witchcraft: Johan Ottens ‘Duivelskwartier’
A new book has appeared about witchcraft in my area! It's written by Johan Otten, a journalist who studied the subject of witchcraft in Noord-Brabant (the Netherlands) for over three years with the following book as result. Duivelskwartier. 1595: heksen, heren en de dood in het vuur (Devil's quarter. 1595: witches, lords and death in … Continue reading New book on witchcraft: Johan Ottens ‘Duivelskwartier’
New this month: July/Augustus 2015
Haven't done much here this summer...busy with lots of other stuff. But as you can see I did expand the website with a new category. Autumn is the season of hard work, and this website will be no exception. I have lots of information that I want to share! New category: Folktales. Only one tale … Continue reading New this month: July/Augustus 2015
The magic of landscapes
When starting this website, I wanted to focus as much as possible on Dutch heathenism, witchcraft and folklore. I soon stumbled upon a problem: 'the Netherlands' as we now know them are only 200 years old. The borders we have now were unheard of in ancient times. What's more, many people who lived in this … Continue reading The magic of landscapes
New this month: June 2015
This is a monthly blog post to keep up with all the new information, images, sources, etc. posted on this website - here you have all the new stuff, neatly summed up! - Added wormwood to the Flora section. - Additional information about the situla in the Death Culture article. - Added a new … Continue reading New this month: June 2015
New book: Arcadia Britannica – a modern British folklore portrait
A wonderful looking new release from Thames & Hudson, one of my favorite publishers. Henry Bourne has a great track record as a potrait photographer. In Arcadia Britannica he depicts the colorful characters from British folklore as they are portrayed by people from all over the island. Green men, horn dancers and other creatures abound! … Continue reading New book: Arcadia Britannica – a modern British folklore portrait
New this month (May 2015)
This is a monthly blog post to keep up with all the new information, images, sources, etc. posted on this website - handy for those who have better things to do than check Thimsternisse every day ;) - Added two new sections in the Well of Knowledge: Death Culture and Elves and Fairies - Added … Continue reading New this month (May 2015)
Large Stone Age grave field discovered in Dalfsen (Netherlands)
Big archeological news from the Netherlands: in Dalfsen (province Overijssel) a large grave field has been found, possibly the largest of its kind found until now. The 5000 years old field belongs to the Funnelbeaker culture, which is named after the typically shaped beakers found in the area (Nort-central Europe) where they lived. In the … Continue reading Large Stone Age grave field discovered in Dalfsen (Netherlands)
Heksen in Holland – upcoming documentary by Silver Circle
I learned through the Wild Hunt website, that Silver Circle is working on a documentary about Wicca in the Netherlands. To be more precise, they have started an Indiegogo campaign to help fund this project. Silver Circle is the best known wiccan group in the Netherlands, and they formed exactly 35 years ago.To celebrate this, … Continue reading Heksen in Holland – upcoming documentary by Silver Circle
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