Part of the World Folklore Series put out by Libraries Unlimited, The Flying Dutchman contains 125 folktales from the Netherlands, and is divided into ten thematic sections. Ranging from animal fables to fairy tales, from traditional and contemporary legends to jokes and riddles, this collection offers a diverse array of stories, and serves as an excellent introduction to the Dutch folkloric tradition.

I was surprised and amused to learn, while reading Theo Meder's historical/cultural introduction, that figures such as Hans Brinker and the Flying Dutchman, although now known in the Netherlands, were originally "foreign" imports (from America and England, as it happens). There is moreover, no well-loved Dutch folktale about a little boy who saves Holland by sticking his finger in a leaking dike. The author's discussion of the anti-heroism of the Ducth tradition was fascinating, and borne out by the tales themselves, which seem to center around the doings of farmers and other ordinary folk. Highlights include:

Why Bears Have Short Tails (Part 1: Animal Tales), in which a bear is tricked by a wily fox, and ends up providing a plentiful meal, at the expense of his tail. This story was already known to me, as How Chief Bear Lost His Tail, which appears in Skunny Wundy, a collection of tales from the Seneca Indian nation. I am always fascinated to see such similar stories crop up in cultures which seem so dissimilar.

The Chocolate House and Rozina (Part 2: Tales of Magic), in which Dutch variants of the fairytales of Hansel and Gretel and Beauty and the Beast are presented. Again, I am always interested to see how different cultures tinker with the same basic stories, and sometimes come to prefer the lesser-known versions. My favorite version of Rapunzel, after all, is the Neopolitan Petrosinella.

The Little Magic Fish (Part 2: Tales of Magic), in which the old tale of The Fisher and His Wife is retold in rhyme, with a decidedly commercial twist. A sales venture on the part of the Van Nelle coffee company in 1920, this version of the story offers a unique opportunity to examine the cross-currents of folklore and business - something I don't often see in folktale collections.

Saint Nicholas and the Three Students (Part 3: Religious Tales), in which three students are miraculously resurrected. Having been used to thinking of Saint Nicholas almost exclusively as a jolly Santa Claus type, it was instructive to note that there are other traditions concerning this figure.

The Soldier and the King (Part 4: Realistic Tales), in which an old ex-soldier aids the king, and receives his just reward. An entertaining variant of the "disguised king" motif...

The Stone Owl-Boards (Part 5: Tales of the Stupid Devil or Ogre), in which a clever farmer's wife outwits the devil, and saves both her husband's soul and their farm...

The Mermaid of Westenschouwen and The Mermaid of Edam (Part 6: Traditional Legends), two historic legends concerning captured mermaids.

The Legend of the White Women (Part 6: Traditional Legends), in which impoverished farmer Albert wins his love with the help of the terrifying "Witte Wieven." This tale whetted my appetite for more regarding this figure of the "White Woman," but I was only able to find one other reference in the collection. I remain unsure as to whether they are meant to be ghosts, demons, or some other kind of supernatural being. It seems I shall have to investigate this further...

Once a Thief, Always a Thief (Part 7: Contemporary Legends), in which a credulous couple discover that thieves rarely return what they have stolen - unless of course, they have a purpose in doing so...

The Snail in the Pit (Part 8: Riddles and Puzzles), which offers a neat little mathematical and logical puzzle. Like many of the entries in this section, this riddle was given to Meder by a young Moroccan storyteller - a timely reminder that the contemporary Netherlands is a multi-cultural society.

The Mosquitos of Dalfsen (Part 9: Anecdotes and Jokes), in which an entire town makes fools of themselves in a most hilarious way...

And finally, The Old Woman and Her Pig (Part 10: Formula Tales), in which a woman must find a way to bring her new pig home, despite his reluctance to move. ( )

The flying Dutchman and other folktales from the Netherlands by Theo Meder (Libraies Unlimited, 2008, 260 p., $_____, ISBN: 9781591584902)
A collection of Dutch culture and tales, this book can be a wonderful addition to the multicultural collection from a country that has historical ties to the founding of North America. Look over your current collection, whether elementary or secondary and see if you need representations from the Dutch culture. If so, this is an excellent collection. ( )