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Lamme Goedzak is a character in Charles De Coster's novel The Legend of Thyl Ulenspiegel and Lamme Goedzak (1867). He is the best friend of Thyl Ulenspiegel. While Ulenspiegel himself is derived from Dutch-German-Flemish folklore Lamme Goedzak is entirely created by De Coster. Despite this he has become one of the most recognizable Flemish folklore characters since.
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Character
Lamme Goedzak's name literally translates as "lazy goodbags", which already hints at his personality. Lamme is a jolly, good-natured, if somewhat naïve man. He functions as a sidekick to Ulenspiegel, with whom he shares his knack for fooling other people, especially clergymen and the Spanish invaders. While sometimes slow-witted Lamme is nevertheless Tijl's most loyal friend.
Lamme is also known for being a Bruegelian bon vivant who enjoys eating and drinking . When depicted on book illustrations he is usually carrying food and wine.
In the novel some information about Lamme's background history is provided. As a child he ran away from home because his younger sister taunted him and he wasn't assertive enough to do something about it. He is married, but lost track of his wife and desperately tries to find her back, while resisting the temptation of other women.
Cultural status
The expression "lamme goedzak" has become an eponym in the Dutch language, referring to a "good, loveable, but naïve person, prone to being taken advantage of." The term is also used for obese, jolly people who enjoying eating and drinking.
A boat trip from Bruges to Damme has been named after him, a theater company in Bruges, a local history organization in Ruddervoorde and a beer brand. Various restaurants and cafés in Lebbeek, Breda, Belsele, Zoersel and Noordwijk
Jean Carmet played Lamme in the 1956 film adaptation of the story, Les Aventures de Till L'Espiègle.
In the Flemish TV series "Tijl Uilenspiegel" (1961) Anton Peters played the part of Lamme.
Willy Vandersteen used Lamme Goedzak in his comic book adaptation of "Tijl Uilenspiegel". In Vandersteen's final comics series, De Geuzen, which is set in the 16th century, the central character is a young intelligent man named Hannes. His sidekick is an obese man who enjoys eating and drinking and who is clearly an expy of Lamme Goedzak, down to his name "Tamme".