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

25 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

Farmhouse family father faces sex abuse charges, children issue statements

November 28, 2019
The farmhouse where the family lived. Photo: Rob Engelaar / Hollandse Hoogte
The farmhouse where the family lived. Photo: Rob Engelaar / Hollandse Hoogte

More details emerged on Thursday about the mysterious family found living in isolation in a Drenthe farmhouse last month, with statements from both the public prosecutor and the children themselves.

The public prosecution department issued a statement saying that the father of the  youngsters is suspected of sexually abusing two of his three older children, who left their parents home years ago and never lived on the Ruinerwold farmhouse.

DNA tests have also shown that all six youngsters at the farm are the children of the 67-year-old man who they claim to be their father, and a woman who died in Zwolle in 2004.

Both the father and a 58-year-old man from Austria who rented the farmhouse from its owner, remain in custody. The two men also face additional charges of holding a 69-year-old man from Austria against his will in nearby Meppel for several months in 2009, the public prosecutor said.

Local bar

The family were discovered in early October when one youngster went to the local bar, appealing for help. They are thought to have lived on the farm for nine years.

At the time the family was portrayed as some sort of doomsday cult with no connection to the outside world, but it emerged later that both the father and the eldest son were active on social media. The father did, however, have past connections to the Moonie religious cult.

Meanwhile, the four oldest children have put out a joint statement via documentary film  maker Jessica Villerius, saying that they support the complaints made against their father, who also faces charges of kidnapping and money laundering.

But the five youngest children say they back their father and describe the division between them and their older siblings, in the statement, as ‘very painful’.

Documentary

The statements have been distributed on their behalf by Villerius, who is working on a documentary about the case.

The aim, the oldest four say, is to ‘create clarity’ so that ‘we can restart our lives, at our own pace and at the moment we are ready to do this.’  The youngest children say they want to first discuss the documentary idea with their father before committing to it.

‘It is clear to me that nothing is what it seems and the situation is much more complex than everyone assumes,’ Villerius said. The children, she said, hope that their statements will answer some of the press and public questions.

Meanwhile, the first pro forma hearing in the legal case will take place on January 1.

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
Dutch fundamentalist Protestants again say "no" to women MPs
AEX falls as Trump threatens 50% import tariff on European goods
Dutch forensic experts develop deepfake video detector
Zaanstad says yes to tourist tickets for Zaanse Schans windmills
Fewer international child abductions by parents last year
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