bezetene

Bezetene is a Dutch term used to describe a person believed to be under the influence or control of a supernatural entity or force. In religious and folkloric contexts, a bezetene may exhibit sudden changes in behavior, voices, movements, or the performance of actions or speech believed to come from outside the person’s normal volition. The concept appears across various cultures and is situated within broader ideas of spirit possession or demon possession.

In Dutch-speaking traditions, the word is commonly encountered in historical writings, religious narratives, and folk stories. Exorcism rites and prayers are often associated with the belief that a bezetene can be liberated through ritual intervention performed by religious authorities or practitioners. The term can function as a noun or as an adjective depending on the grammatical context.

In modern science and medicine, phenomena described as possession are typically examined through psychological or psychiatric lenses. Possession experiences may be interpreted as psychotic symptoms, dissociative disorders, trance states, or culturally specific syndromes. In these contexts, possession is understood as a human experience shaped by cultural meaning rather than a supernatural event.

In contemporary culture, bezetene figures appear in literature, cinema, and music as motifs to explore themes such as loss of control, spirituality, fear, and the limits of agency. The concept remains part of discussions about religion, folklore, and cultural representation in Dutch-speaking regions, though its usage in secular or clinical discourse has diminished.