The Black Lady and the Molenbeek stream

Although no chapel is dedicated to her, the Black Lady has always appealed to the imagination of the inhabitants of Lower Saxony. That's why it shouldn't be missing in this story. Different legends circulate about how and why this statue of Mary, which found its place in the wooded surroundings of Ter Balk. Indeed, a mysterious veil hangs over this statue and the place where it is placed. According to historian Vannoppen of Erps-Kwerps, the Black Madame controlled Molenbeek between Nederokkerzeel and Erps-Kwerps. In the vicinity is the "Steinen Goot", a stone gutter, the place where the Weesbeek flows under the Molenbeek, which is higher. The original iron bridge is a well-known stop. Residents believe that voices were heard at the scene at midnight and that people were inexplicably dragged into Molenbeek to death by drowning. By the way, the whole region was then plagued by superstitious phenomena. According to another source, members of the Wittman family, owners of Ter Balk Castle, installed the statue of Mary to monitor the surroundings. The story goes that the sister of the owner of the castle promised all her fortune to her nephew, the son of the owner of the castle, if he became a priest. The latter, however, was an only child and at the same time descendant. Father Wittman is said to have placed a statue of Mary, facing Leuven, with the ardent wish that his son, who was staying in a monastery in Leuven, would not follow his vocation. His desire was satisfied, his prayers were heard, but he was able to whistle for the inheritance.

Val et Oli