Dragons are celebrated in various forms worldwide, like in stories, books, films, and series. The most well-known story in Europe is that of St. George and the Dragon. But how can the legend of St. George and the Dragon have a significant impact on a small village community in Limburg, the Netherlands? Beesel is, in fact, dragon territory! Here in this village a dragon emerges, once every seven years, from the river Maas and the story is passed down from generation to generation. When you are born in Beesel, ‘drakeblood’ will automatically flow through your veins. ‘Drakeblood’ is the Limburgish dialect for blood of the dragon.
The oldest known mention dates back to 1736. Songs were sung about ‘that song of the venomous dragon’. In the region, this phenomenon is known as Draaksteken, literally translated to dragon stabbing. Although it seems to be much older, many archives about the village were lost in a massive fire in 1899, leaving only speculation.
In Beesel, a history has been created around an event that never took place. I have captured this elusive myth within a community. Where, as the famous saying goes, it takes a village to raise a dragon.
