Münster’s deadly Heidemann

The beautiful moated castle of Burg Hülshoff, nestled in the Münsterland countryside, is the birthplace of the world-famous poet Annette von Droste-Hülshoff. She loved the vast heathlands of the Münsterland, where, according to an ancient legend, a deadly Heidemann lived. However, he only brought death to girls in an inexplicable way. Inspired by this legendary creature, the poet dedicated the poem “Der Heidemann” to him. But who was the Heidemann? According to legend, he was said to have been huge, always wearing a flowing cloak and shoes with iron buckles. When he encountered wandering journeymen, he would immediately disappear into the thick fog on the horizon. He behaved differently with girls. When he saw one walking across the heath after sunset, he would rush towards her and pull her under his cloak. Then he would take the girl home. Before letting the girl go, he kissed her on the mouth. Frightened, the girls ran quickly to their homes. In the evening, they told their parents about their strange encounter with the Heidemann. But the unbelievable happened the next morning, because the girls had died during the night for no apparent reason. This fate befell all the girls who encountered the Heidemann. That is why they ran away as fast as they could when they saw him in the heath. Today, the Heidemann is said to hardly ever be seen in the heath anymore. But every now and then, people swear that they have seen a tall man with a flowing cloak in the distance. Such is the legend of the Heidemann of the Münsterland.