The first pictures have emerged of a Dutchman who saved his siblings after they were locked up for nine years waiting ‘for the end of times’ before he walked to a nearby bar and asked for help.
Dutch police are trying to piece together the confusing mystery that has captured the attention of the world after a family of six were found living in a secret room on an isolated farm.
Five siblings, estimated to be between 18 and 25 years old, and a man they identified as their ailing father were found near Ruinerwold, a village in the northern province of Drenthe.
A man who police said had paid the rent on the property, known locally as Joseph B, was detained, although they could not say on Wednesday whether he was suspected of a crime and it’s unclear if he actually is their father.
Mayor Roger de Groot had said on Tuesday the 58-year-old was not the father of the family.
“The man is still in custody and is being questioned,” said Drenthe police spokeswoman Grietje Hartstra.
“A lot is still unclear and we are investigating exactly what happened there.”
Twenty-five-year-old Jan Zon van Dorsten was believed to be the eldest sibling living in the ‘small, enclosed space’ at a house in Ruinerwold, 60 miles north of Amsterdam.
On Sunday he appeared at a bar in the town, ordering five beers before telling the publican he and his siblings needed help.
Mr van Doreston has been linked to several social media accounts, including Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook – where he has regularly posted updates since June.
“You know that work is inspiring and going really well when you still can’t leave it alone at 3 am Sunday,” one post from August 18 read, alongside a selfie.
On June 6, he said on Linkedin he had started a new job at Creconat, a timber company owned by Josef B, who is a carpenter.
Mr van Doreston describes himself on Linkedin by writing: “Hi, sit down because I have a lot to tell you. A story that won’t bore you… Fancy?”
He continues: “For me, personal connection has always been at the forefront, thanks to my parents who have always devoted their time to our personal education.
“And the rest of their time? Friends. And the company always ran great! How is that possible, huh …
“In the meantime, that time has passed … in 2004 Mom passed away and every day we are happy to take care of Dad.
“But where am I now? Ready for my goal! Someday I want to see with my own eyes that every person on earth has the opportunity to be who they want to be,” he writes.
Over Facebook, he shared a link to Swedish climate activists Greta Torbnurg ’s ‘How Dare You’ speech at the UN and a photo of the Fridays For Future climate protests in Sydney.
It’s believed the photos of the town at night were taken while he walked to the bar – where he reportedly visited three times before the publican, Chris Westerbeek called the police.
“He ordered five beers and drank them. Then I had a chat with him and he revealed he had run away and needed help … then we called the police,” Mr Westerbeek told RTV Drenthe.
“He said he had brothers and sisters who lived at the farm. He said he was the oldest and wanted to end the way they were living.”
Mr Westerbeek contacted police, who went to the property. There they found a cupboard that hid a secret staircase down to the basement where the family was living.
Officials have not commented on reports the family may have held “end of days” apocalyptic beliefs.
“There is a lot of speculation in the media about what happened but as police we deal with facts. We still have a lot of unanswered questions,” Hartstra said.
The children’s mother was believed to have died before the family moved to the Dutch farm in 2010, mayor de Groot said.
The siblings had apparently lived in makeshift rooms inside the farm and survived partly on vegetables and animals from a secluded garden on the property, local TV RTV Drenthe reported.
The post Pictured: The brother who saved his siblings held in basement for years in Holland appeared first on The New Daily.
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