It was strongly advised not to provoke the Witte Wieven. These women were known for aiding in harvests and the birth of newborn babies, but they were also notorious as malicious creatures.

They were believed capable of stealing milk or beer by slipping through cracks, and even committing acts of sexual assault against men. Legend held that those who spent the night with them would die in euphoria, while others met a longer, more painful demise.

Stories recounted how Witte Wieven would go from house to house, requesting a "Balkenhaas" (a common name for a cat). If given one, they would roast and consume it. Occasionally, they invited people to their homes and revealed miraculous sights, instructing them to keep these secrets from any living soul.

Moreover, Witte Wieven were infamous for abducting people. Many drowned when they followed the women into swamps, but disappearance did not always end in such a way.

Babies were often snatched from their cradles by these ruthless women and taken to their graves. Some claimed to hear the cries of these infants from within the Hunebedden where they were taken. Occasionally, Witte Wieven exchanged a stolen baby for a Wisselkind.