The Golden Eel of Giethoorn

Introduction

Deep in the heart of the Netherlands, in the tranquil village of Giethoorn, the waters hold a secret as old as time itself. While the world outside moved forward, here, among the narrow canals and thatched-roof houses, an ancient legend lingered.

They called it the Golden Eel—a creature of shimmering gold that lived beneath the water’s surface, never fully seen, only whispered about in hushed voices. Some believed it to be a guardian, protecting the village from unseen dangers. Others feared it, convinced it carried a curse that could bring ruin to those who disturbed it.

Many had tried to capture it over the years, drawn by greed or curiosity. But none had ever returned with proof.

For Pieter Van der Meer, a young fisherman with an insatiable thirst for adventure, the eel was not just an old wives’ tale. It was a mystery waiting to be solved.

And he was determined to be the one to solve it.

The Whispering Waters

Giethoorn was unlike any other village in the Netherlands. There were no roads here—only canals, where boats glided silently under wooden bridges. The houses, some centuries old, stood like quiet sentinels along the waterways, their reflection rippling in the water.

Pieter had lived here his entire life, his hands calloused from years of fishing with his father before he passed away. But no matter how many times he cast his nets, no matter how much fish he brought home, he always felt like he was meant for something more.

That feeling grew stronger one evening as he docked his boat near the local inn.

A hunched old man sat on the pier, his wrinkled hands clasped around a pipe, smoke curling into the cool night air. His eyes, though old, still held a sharpness that made Pieter pause.

“You’re Van der Meer’s boy, aren’t you?” the old man rasped.

Pieter nodded, curiosity piqued. “I am.”

The man took a long drag from his pipe before exhaling. “Tell me, lad… have you ever seen the Golden Eel?”

Pieter frowned. He had heard stories, of course—every child in Giethoorn had. But no one ever took them seriously.

“That’s just a myth,” he said.

The old man chuckled, shaking his head. “No myth, boy. I saw it myself once. Many years ago. And if you listen closely on nights like this, when the wind is still… you can hear it whisper through the water.”

Pieter felt a shiver run down his spine.

“Where did you see it?” he asked.

The old man smirked, leaning in. “The forbidden waters,” he whispered.

The words sent a thrill through Pieter’s veins. The forbidden waters were an uncharted part of the canals, a place where boats rarely ventured. It was said that those who entered never returned.

But Pieter had never been one to shy away from a challenge.

A Map of Secrets

The next morning, Pieter found himself at the village’s tiny library, an old brick building covered in ivy. Inside, the scent of aged paper filled the air.

Miss Hilda, the librarian, squinted at him over her thick glasses. “You’re looking for something, Pieter?”

He hesitated before saying, “Do you have any records on the Golden Eel?”

The room grew eerily quiet.

After a long pause, Miss Hilda reached under the counter and pulled out an ancient, yellowed map.

“This belonged to Willem Janszoon,” she murmured. “The last fisherman who claimed to see the eel. He vanished without a trace.”

Pieter’s fingers traced the markings on the map. There, deep within the marshes, was a spot marked with a crude X.

The forbidden waters.

Miss Hilda sighed, adjusting her glasses. “Be careful, Pieter. Some mysteries are better left unsolved.”

But Pieter was already making plans.

Into the Forbidden Waters

That night, Pieter loaded his boat with supplies—a lantern, a fishing net, and a small knife. The moon cast silver light over the water as he paddled toward the forbidden waters.

As he entered the narrowest part of the canal, the air grew thick and heavy. A dense mist curled over the surface, swallowing the world around him.

Then—a whisper.

Not from the wind. Not from the trees. But from the water itself.

A golden glow shimmered beneath the surface. Pieter’s heart pounded. He reached for his net, casting it toward the light.

The moment it touched the water, the boat lurched violently.

Something enormous pulled at the net.

Pieter clung to the side of his boat as a shadow rose from the depths. For a brief moment, he saw it—a massive eel, its scales gleaming like molten gold. Its eyes, ancient and knowing, locked onto his.

Then, in a flash, it vanished into the darkness.

Pieter gasped, his breath coming in ragged pants.

The Golden Eel was real.

The Village Awakens

The next morning, Pieter’s story spread through the village like wildfire.

Some mocked him. Others listened intently, eyes filled with unease. But one man, Cornelis De Vries, was especially interested.

Cornelis was a wealthy merchant, more concerned with gold than legends. If this eel was real, he saw only one thing—profit.

“I’ll give one hundred guilders to the man who brings me the Golden Eel!” he announced.

The hunt had begun.

The Trap

Cornelis and his men set out that night, armed with reinforced nets and harpoons. They were determined to catch the eel, no matter the cost.

Pieter, filled with dread, followed in secret.

As the boats entered the forbidden waters, silence fell. Even the crickets stopped chirping.

Then—the golden light.

Cornelis’s men cast their nets. Something massive thrashed violently.

They had caught it.

But the water began to churn. The air crackled with energy.

Pieter’s eyes widened as something far larger than the eel emerged from the depths—a shadow, vast and ancient, moving beneath the waves.

Lightning split the sky.

Cornelis’s men screamed as the boat capsized.

The eel, freed, vanished into the storm.

By morning, Cornelis was gone.

A Guardian’s Gift

Pieter returned to the forbidden waters alone, not to capture, but to understand.

One evening, as he sat quietly, the eel surfaced once more.

It watched him, then gently dropped something onto his boat—a golden pearl, glowing softly.

A gift. A warning.

The eel vanished once more, leaving Pieter with a truth he would never forget.

The Golden Eel was no curse.

It was a guardian.

Epilogue: The Eternal Guardian

Today, the people of Giethoorn still tell the tale.

And on quiet nights, if you listen closely to the water’s whispers…

You might just hear the Golden Eel.

The End.