The body of a man who went missing from a residential home in Apeldoorn has been found in a canal in the centre of the town after a five-day search.

Dennis Schoonhoven was reported missing on Wednesday morning from a secure facility run by mental health care service GGnet, where he had been living since March. He was last seen at around 10am at an Action store on Anklaar.

The 24-year-old had autism and was unable to care for himself, according to his mother Maike. She told Omroep Gelderland she feared he may have tried to take his own life.

At least 150 volunteers joined a search for Dennis at the weekend. His body was found in water at Operaplein, around 500 metres from the spot where he was last seen. Police said there were no signs of foul play.