Kabouterkoning Kyrië

Village pump containing a bronze statue for Kabouterkoning Kyrië, designed by Wim Gubbels, on the Valensplein in Hoogeloon.
According to old local gnome stories, the Kabouterkoning Kyrië was the leader of gnomes who lived in the Kempen region. These gnomes had their headquarters in Hoogeloon. From Hoogeloon, the gnome folk regularly undertook trips in the surrounding area. According to tradition, Kabouterkoning Kyrië lived on the Kerkakkers in the Gnome Mountain, one of the burial mounds located in the heath of Hoogeloon.
The gnomes in the Kempen were helpful little creatures who mainly helped farmers and residents in the area. They did this mainly at night and absolutely did not want to be watched by people. If people did, they were punished by the gnomes. One story tells of a curious farmer who had nevertheless secretly spied on the gnomes and subsequently became blind in one eye.
One day, Kabouterkoning Kyrië was hit by a gunshot from a hunter on the heath at Riethoven. Kabouterkoning Kyrië had just the strength to run into Devil's Mountain, where an entire gnome people lived. The hunter curiously went to look at the mountain and heard the sad gnomes say: Kyria is dead! Kabouterkoning Kyrië had died of his injuries immediately after arriving at Devil's Mountain. The sad news that their Gnome King had died quickly spread among all the gnomes. Kabouterkoning Kyrië was buried by the gnomes somewhere in Hoogeloon. After the death of their king, the gnomes left the area with unknown destination. No one has heard or seen a gnome in the Kempen since then.