DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

23 May 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Film about cold water guru Wim Hof put on ice over abuse claims

October 1, 2024
Hof promoting his ice bath method in Cologne earlier this year. Photo: Horst Galuschka/dpa via ANP

A film about the life of cold water guru Wim Hof aka the Iceman has been put on hold following “serious” accusations of domestic violence, production company Genesius Pictures has told the Volkskrant.

The paper published an article at the weekend in which the 65-year-old Hof’s former girlfriend said he had subjected her, their son and her two children from a former relationship to 13 years of mental and physical abuse.

The paper also cited police reports, court documents, a report from the child protection services and the testimony of another former partner.

Hof’s promotion of cold water training to boost health has made him a celebrity across the world, with millions following in his footsteps. In 2022, the annual report of Hof Holding showed a profit of €6 million.

Strangulation

In 2012 he was fined and given a community service order for abusing his stepson who claimed to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. His ex-partner accused Hof of sexual abuse and strangulation and said the abuse continued during her pregnancy.

In a response, Hof denied the allegations. “It’s clear she is on the warpath and trying to present a different version of what happened,” he said.

Hof told show programme RTL Boulevard he was “not a violent man”. He and his partner had “their differences” he admitted but the domestic abuse accusations were based on “jealousy, bitterness and envy,” Hof said.

London-based Genesius Pictures, which has since removed the announcement of The Iceman from its website, said the allegations were serious enough to reconsider production of the film, in which Hof was to be played by Joseph Fiennes.

According to a description on the website of partner Cornerstone Pictures, the film was to portray Hof as “a widower who worked as a postman and struggled to support his four children” in an “inspiring and moving true story”.

Earlier this year Hof was cleared of causing the death of a 17-year-old American teenager who was found at the bottom of a pool by her father, who claimed she had been practising breathing exercises promoted by Hof.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Society
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Fewer international students starting bachelor degrees in NL
MPs urge cabinet to join banned Pride march in Budapest
Dutch house prices up 10% on a year ago, latest figures show
Foundations and the future: what you need to think about
Highway to hell: confessions of a would-be Ring reveller
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now