The legend of Ellert and Brammert
Tradition says that two giants lived here four centuries ago: father and son. They were rough guys who had built an underground hut on the large heathland, today known as Ellertsveld. From their hut, the two robbers scoured the area. Anyone who did not urgently need to pass the Ellertsveld did not venture there.
From their den, Ellert and Brammert had stretched wires across the field in all directions. These wires were connected to a bell. If an unsuspecting traveler unknowingly touched one of these wires, the bell would start to ring. Ellert and Brammert immediately went out to beat the traveler with big clubs and rob him. Many merchants fell into the hands of the predatory duo and if they made it out alive, they could still be grateful.
One day, when father and son were strolling through the heath, they noticed a beautiful young girl on the ash tree in the village of Orvelterveen: Marieke. The poor girl was dragged into the cave and had to do housework there for seven years. A disadvantage of having a woman in the house for the robbers was that they could never go out together again. One of them always had to guard Marieke. When father Ellert was alone in the den with Marieke, he ordered her to shave him. Marieke saw her chance and cut his throat with the razor-sharp razor while shaving. While the giant collapsed, dying, she ran home.
When Brammert discovered what happened to his father, he gave chase. He just couldn’t catch up with her. The next morning they saw that a large ax had been stuck in the door, which the girl had slammed behind her. Brammert had missed her by a hair! Marieke and her parents moved as soon as possible to an area where it was safer. And all other residents of Orvelterveen, who feared Brammert’s revenge, also left the village. Before long the entire village had been moved.