Sefa, born Jozefa Coleta Bubbels, is a sturdy woman as strong as a horse. She is a firm woman, broad-shouldered and has hands like cleavers. Sefa lives in the Steenuilbos (little owl forest) where she was born in 1667. As a cow herder, she works at nearby farmstead.
Around 1700, the plague rages in full force. Sefa loses her husband and five children to this terrible disease. The two remaining ones leave soon after. Since then, strange things happen in the area around the forest. Of these, Sefa is blamed as a scapegoat. One day, she is summoned to the bailiff, who has a list of complaints against her. In revenge, Sefa summons all the witches from Beselare that same night. The next day, the whole parish is in an uproar. Everywhere something strange had happened. From then on, Beselare was given the name of Witches’ parish.
In 1750, Stefa dies, after which no one wants to take her to the cemetery. Eventually, the castle’s coachman is ordered to do this task. While lowering the coffin, the cords break and the coffin falls aside. At that moment, a violent thunderstorm breaks out and a fire starts in the Little Owl Forest, burning everything down.
