Wodan Oaks of Wolfheze - Wolfheze

On Wolfhezer Heath, there are five winding Wooden Oaks. These ancient, mysterious oaks were often the inspiration of supernatural forces. But modern engineers in the 19th century who were busy building the railroad obviously did not believe in them.

In the harsh winter of 1890, some men were working at night along the railroad tracks. They were planning to plant a tree on the Rijksstraatweg past the Planken Wambuis. Around 01:30 a.m. they suddenly saw a strange light appear in the distance. At first they thought of a locomotive coming toward them with only one light. That was strange. At the deep meltwater trench in front of the Rijersheide, the light suddenly came closer and dove into the tunnel. They moved quickly to the other end of the tunnel, but nothing appeared. Still a little frightened, they decided not to go into the tunnel in the dark, but the next day in daylight. They found nothing.

Now every resident of Wolfheze knows that they did not see a train, but the burning shepherd of Wolfheze. He had deliberately set his farm and sheepfold on fire, but when he had to appear in court for this he denied and broke the sacrilegious oath with the words, "If I lie, may my soul continue to wander like a burning roof sheaf" (or burning straw forest). After his lie, he wandered eternally burning between Wolfheze, the Planken Wambuis and Arnhem.