The well

The well
Locations
The well during winter
Level	Location
Country	Groot Waterland
First appearance	Episode 4
Name in different languages
Dutch name	De waterput
Japanese name	Unknown
German name	Der Brunnen
English name	The well

The well is a watering hole in the vicinity of Polderstad which Dolf de Kraai, Alfred Jodocus Kwak and eventually Krabnagel de Kater fell into. It is also a place where in the middle ages people banished from Polderstad would congregate.

Notable features

The well is located on the Brede Buitenweg near Polderstad. In the middle ages, the well sat within a forest, while in Alfred Jodocus Kwak's youth it seemed to have been on a plane. The well has a circular design, two posts that hold up a windlass with an old damaged rope that Alfred snaps some length off as he descends down to rescue Dolf de Kraai and becomes trapped himself. The parapet is made from red brick, and has been broken on the side, while the well casing of the shaft is constructed with dark grey stone.

History

The well was constructed in the middle ages, but was likely not a very successful well as it wasn't regularly used by the citizens of Polderstad. Instead people that were banished from the city congregated here to find their only source of water, with their spirits haunting it to this day, according to history teacher Meester Bas Buldog.

An alternate explanation is given in De Droom van Alfred Jodocus Kwak where women who act slightly differently to the average woman were burnt at the stake and their ashes were thrown into the well. Their spirits might haunt the well as well.

The well how it looked in the middle ages, according to Alfred's imagination.

In Alfred Jodocus Kwak's schooldays, after a fight, Alfred had startled Dolf de Kraai as he was painting his beak black with shoe polish and he fell down the dried-up well breaking his right arm. Afterwards, Alfred had tried to climb down via the rope that hung from the windlass, but fell down on top of Dolf. They were stuck in the well into the night as Henk de Mol searched for them, during which time they discussed Alfred's strange parentage and Dolf's own mother and father. Without them knowing Krabnagel de Kater was stalking them, hoping to fish them out and eat them. Just as he's raising Alfred up with a fishing rod Henk finds them and bites into Krabnagel's tail. Krabnagel drops Alfred on top of the windlass and the cat tries to get to him, but bites his own paw on accident and drops into the well, together with Dolf. Despite his broken arm Dolf climbs up, only for him and Alfred to drop back down again as Krabnagel chases Henk onto a frozen lake. He falls through the ice and freezes. Henk then calls emergency services to help them out of the well and take Dolf to hospital.

Alfred and Dolf stuck down the well.

An alternate retelling is given in De Droom van Alfred Jodocus Kwak where Henk finds them, without Krabnagel interfering or being involved in this part of the story.

Inhabitants

This location does not have any inhabitants, but Polderstad citizens do regularly pass here.

Appearances

TV Series

• 
  Alfred J. Kwak Episode 4
• 
  Alfred J. Kwak Episode 5

Books

• De wonderlijke avonturen van Alfred J. Kwak: Op school (1989) (Dutch)
  De wonderlijke avonturen van Alfred J. Kwak: Op school (1989) (Dutch)
• De wonderlijke avonturen van Alfred J. Kwak: Krab de kat (1989) (Dutch)
  De wonderlijke avonturen van Alfred J. Kwak: Krab de kat (1989) (Dutch)
• De wonderlijke avonturen van Alfred J. Kwak: Omnibus 2 (1989) (Dutch)
  De wonderlijke avonturen van Alfred J. Kwak: Omnibus 2 (1989) (Dutch)
• 
  Alfred J. Kwak Mijn avontuurlijke leven (1991) (Dutch)
• 
  De Droom van Alfred Jodocus Kwak (1991) (Dutch)
• Alfred J. Kwak Filmstripboek Deel 2 (2006) (Dutch)
  Alfred J. Kwak Filmstripboek Deel 2 (2006) (Dutch)

Production background

The well is likely based on many old stories about being stuck down a well, as well as being stuck in down well in the game of the goose.

Emergency services take Dolf de Kraai away to treat his broken arm.

Location gallery

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