Kobus van der Schlossen
Late-17th-century Dutch thief and folkloric figure from North Brabant.
Kobus van der Schlossen, also known as Jacobus, was a Dutch thief from the late 1600s who became a central figure in the folktales of North Brabant. He died in 1695. Before turning to crime, he served as a soldier in the many wars that had thrown the Netherlands into chaos. Afterward, he joined a gang of former soldiers called *de zwartmakers* (meaning "the detractors"). Leading his own band, *De Zwarte Bende*, he hid out in the dense, nearly impassable Slabroek forests near Uden. Authorities eventually caught him in Uden and locked him in Ravenstein Castle, which has since been torn down. He was hanged in 1695 at the gallows of the Lordship of Ravenstein in Velp, with some 20,000 people reportedly showing up to watch.
Folktales recount his incredible escapes from the law. One such story gave its name to a still-existing area of Slabroek called *De Brobbelbies*. The tale goes that Kobus once stumbled upon law officers in the woods. Unable to outrun them, he jumped into a pond and hid by magically turning into a bulrush (called *bies* in Dutch). The water began to bubble (*brobbelen*) because of this transformation, which is how the place got its name.
- Born
- Unknown
- Died
- 1695
- Field
- Thief, outlaw
- Nationality
- Dutch
- Known for
- Leading the robber band De Zwarte Bende; folktales of miraculous escapes; namesake of the Brobbelbies area
Lore & Background
Kobus van der Schlossen was a late-seventeenth century Dutch thief who, after serving as a soldier in the many wars which left the Netherlands in turmoil, joined a gang of ex-soldiers called de zwartmakers (lit. 'the detractors'). With his robber band De Zwarte Bende he made his home in the vast and impenetrable Slabroek forests near Uden. He was eventually captured in Uden and imprisoned in Ravenstein Castle (since demolished). He was hanged in 1695 at the gallows of the Lordship of Ravenstein in Velp. Allegedly, 20,000 spectators came to witness the execution.
Stories were told about his miraculous escapes from the forces of law. De Brobbelbies, an area of Slabroek which still exists, received its name from one of these stories. One day, as the story goes, Kobus accidentally ran into some law-officers in the woods. When he found he could not outrun them he jumped into a pond and hid by morphing into a bulrush (called Bies in Dutch). Because of the magical transformation the water started bubbling (brobbelen; hence Brobbelbies).
Reader's Guide
Kobus van der Schlossen is significant as a figure who bridges historical crime and regional folklore in the North Brabant region of the Netherlands. His life as a soldier turned outlaw reflects the social turmoil of the late seventeenth century, when many ex-soldiers turned to banditry. The stories of his miraculous escapes, particularly the tale of his transformation into a bulrush that gave the Brobbelbies area its name, have embedded him in local legend. The alleged attendance of 20,000 spectators at his execution underscores his notoriety. His legacy endures through the place name Brobbelbies, which still exists in the Slabroek forests, and through the folktales that continue to be told. The account, drawn from the source article by Reggie Naus, presents him as a figure of both historical record and folk imagination, without resolving any uncertainties in the narrative.
Did You Know?
- Kobus van der Schlossen was also known as Jacobus van der Schlossen.
- He was a member of a gang of ex-soldiers called de zwartmakers, meaning 'the detractors'.
- The area Brobbelbies in Slabroek forest is named after a folktale in which Kobus morphed into a bulrush to escape law-officers.
- Allegedly, 20,000 spectators came to witness his hanging in 1695.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kobus van der Schlossen?
Kobus van der Schlossen, also called Jacobus, was a late-17th-century Dutch outlaw from North Brabant who became one of the region's most beloved folk-hero figures. He is best remembered as the leader of the robber gang known as De Zwarte Bende.
What was De Zwarte Bende and what role did Kobus play in it?
De Zwarte Bende was a band of former soldiers who turned to banditry after the wars that destabilized the Dutch Republic. Kobus led the group and used the thick, hard-to-navigate Slabroek woods near Uden as their base of operations.
How did Kobus van der Schlossen go from soldier to outlaw?
He first served as a soldier during the period of constant warfare that rocked the Netherlands. Once his military service ended, he aligned himself with a group of ex-soldiers called de zwartmakers before carving out his own criminal identity at the head of De Zwarte Bende.
Why is Kobus van der Schlossen still remembered in Dutch folklore?
Tales of his miraculous escapes have cemented his reputation as a roguish folk hero in North Brabant's oral tradition. The Brobbelbies area is even named after him, keeping his name embedded in everyday Dutch geography.
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