Police in Gelderland are searching for a family with five children who disappeared from their home in the village of Doorwerth this weekend.

The man, an American woman and children aged one to 10 are thought to have driven off in the family car, leaving their home in ‘chaos’, local broadcaster Omroep Gelderland said. According to RTL news, the family also cancelled their rental contract from March 15.

Three of the children told their school on Friday that the family was moving to America, but police have been diving in the river Rhine close to nearby Renkum where the car was last seen, the broadcaster said.

The family was reported missing on Sunday.

Meanwhile, social workers have confirmed they were involved with a family in Etten-Leur, where the father and nine-year-old daughter were found dead at the weekend. The third person was identified on Monday as the 20-year-old half brother of the girl.

Reports about domestic violence within the family were made in August 2013, officials say. The child’s safety was not thought to be at risk.

Police have not released any more details about their investigation, other than to say they have been in contact with the child’s mother.