bontkraag

Bontkraag is a legendary creature in Dutch-language folklore and later in Northern European fantasy traditions. The name combines bont (fur, coat) and kraag (neck collar), a reference to the animal’s distinctive neck region in many tales. Descriptions vary; most portray a large carnivore or draconic predator with a heavy neckguard or bone-like crest that runs along the throat, sometimes described as a rib-like structure or a bony collar formed of fused plates.

Traditionally, Bontkraag is said to inhabit remote forests, peat bogs, and ruined hill-country, often near water or old settlements. It is depicted as shy or reclusive, striking only when disturbed or hungry. Its diet typically includes deer and wild boar, with occasional reports of smaller game or scavenging. The creature is usually portrayed as solitary, with legends emphasizing cunning and the ability to move silently.

In folklore, Bontkraag serves as a cautionary figure—warns travelers against crossing certain landscapes or against greed and trespass in sacred or abandoned places. Some regional tales cast it as a guardian of ancient treasures, others as a test for heroes.

In modern culture, Bontkraag appears in contemporary fantasy literature and tabletop role-playing games as a monster or encounter, sometimes reimagined with different abilities or appearances while preserving the core motif of a formidable, forest-dwelling predator.