Kabouter from Dutch/Belgian folklore

Kabouters are small, bearded beings from Dutch and Belgian folklore, similar to gnomes or brownies. They are typically depicted as tiny, old men with wrinkled faces, wearing simple rustic clothes and pointed hats, often red. Their appearance is earthy, with a stocky build and nimble hands, well-suited for their secretive underground homes or hidden forest dwellings.

They are known as helpful household spirits, assisting with chores and repairs if treated with respect. However, they dislike rudeness and laziness—those who offend them may find their luck turning sour. In some tales, they also inhabit hollow trees or burrows, quietly tending to nature and avoiding human contact.