The two boys arrested in connection with the separate murders of two 14-year-old girls last week have both been remanded in custody while the investigations continue.

The 14-year-old arrested in connection with the sexual assault and murder of Romy Nieuwburg has now confessed to the crime, police said on Thursday. The boy, who knew Romy from the special needs school she attended, will remain in custody for a further 14 days, judges said.

Romy’s body was found in water in a nature reserve in Achterveld, east of Amersfoort on Friday afternoon, some two hours after she left school to cycle home.

A second youth, aged 16, has also been remanded in custody for his role in the death of Savannah Dekker who was reported missing after failing to return home from school on Thursday evening.

Her body was found in a ditch on the edge of the De Kronkels industrial estate in Bunschoten on Sunday by a passerby.

The police have not yet said any more about that case but have appealed for people who may have moved her black bike or locked it up close to a bus stop to come forward.