Police are investigating an apparent murder suicide involving a police officer at a private home in Everdingen in Utrecht province on Thursday.

According to Dutch media reports, the policeman killed his wife and subsequently turned a gun on himself, following a stand-off with police who had been watching the premises for two hours.

Shots were fired immediately after the police moved in shortly after 1pm, but it is unclear what exactly happened in the house.

The man,  a 43-year-old police officer, was taken by ambulance to hospital but died on the way. ‘There is a strong suspicion that he killed his wife and then himself’ police said.

The man and his wife, a 40-year-old hairdresser, reportedly had ‘personal problems’, Dutch media said.